THE TRANSFER
OF PROPERTY ACT, 1882
(4 of 1882)
[7th
February, 1882]
CONTENTS
Preliminary
1. Short title.
2. Repeal of Acts.-Saving of certain enactments, incidents, rights
liabilities, etc.
4. Enactments relating to contracts to supplemental, to the
Registration Act.
Of transfers of property by act of
parties
5. “Transfer
of property” defined.-
7. Persons
competent to transfer.
10. Condition
restraining alienation.
11. Restriction
repugnant to interest created.
12. Condition
making interest determinable on insolvency or attempted alienation.
13. Transfer
for benefit of unborn person.
15. Transfer to
class some of whom come under sections 13 and 14.
16. Transfer to
take effect on failure of prior interest.
17. Direction
for accumulation.
18. Transfer in perpetuity for benefit of public.
19. Vested
interest.
20. When unborn
person acquires vested interest on transfer for his benefit.
22. Transfer to
members of a class who attain a particular age.
23. Transfer contingent on happening of specified
uncertain event.
24. Transfer to
such of certain persons as survive at some period not specified.
26. Fulfilment
of condition precedent.
27. Conditional
transfer to one person coupled with transfer to another on failure of prior
disposition.
28. Ulterior
transfer conditional on happening or not happening of specified event.
29. Fulfilment
of condition subsequent.
30. Prior
disposition not affected by invalidity of ulterior disposition.
32. Such
condition must not be invalid.
33. Transfer
conditional on performance of act, no time being specified for performance.
34. Transfer
conditional on performance of act, time being specified.
Exception to the last preceding four
rules.
36. Apportionment
of periodical payments on determination of interest of person entitled.
37. Apportionment
of benefit of obligation on severance.
38. Transfer by
person authorised only under certain circumstances to transfer.
39. Transfer
where third person is entitled to maintenance.
40. Burden of obligation imposing restriction on use of land.
Or of obligation annexed to ownership
but not amounting to interest or easement.
41. Transfer by
ostensible owner.
42. Transfer by
person having authority to revoke former transfer.
43. Transfer by
unauthorized person who subsequently acquires interest in property transferred.
45. Joint
transfer for consideration,
46. Transfer
for consideration by person having distinct interests.
47. Transfer by
co-owner of share in common property.
48. Priority of
rights created by transfer.
49. Transferee’s
right under policy.
50. Rent bona
fide paid to holder under defective title.
51. Improvements
made by bona fide holders under defective titles.
52. Transfer of
property pending suit relating thereto.
53A. Part
performance.
Of sales of immoveable property
54. “Sale”
defined.
55. Rights and
liabilities of buyer and seller.
56. Marshalling
by subsequent purchaser.
57. Provision
by Court for encumbrances and sale freed therefrom.
Of mortgages of immoveable property and charges
58. “Mortgage”, mortgagor”, mortgagee”, “mortgage-money” and
‘mortgage-deed” defined.
(b). Simple mortgage.
(c). Mortgage by conditional sale.
(e). English mortgage.
(f). Mortgage by deposit of title-deeds.
(g). Anomalous mortgage.
59. Mortgage when to be by
assurance.
59A. References to mortgagors and mortgagees to include persons
deriving title form them.
60. Right of
mortgagor to redeem.
Redemption of portion of mortgaged
property.
60A.
Obligation
to transfer to third party instead of re-transference to mortgagor.
60B. Right to inspection and production of documents.
61. Right to
redeem separately or simultaneously.
62. Right of
usufructuary mortgagor to recover profession.
63. Accession to mortgaged property.
63A. Improvements
to mortgaged property.
64. Renewal of
mortgaged lease.
65. Implied
contracts by mortgagor.
65A. Mortgagor’s
power to lease.
66. Waste by mortgagor in possession.
67. Right to
foreclosure or sale.
67A. Mortgagee
when bound to bring one suit on several mortgages.
68. Right to sue for mortgage-money.
70. Accession
to mortgaged property.
71. Renewal
of mortgagee lease.
72. Right of
mortgagee in possession.
73. Right to
proceeds of revenue sale or compensation on acquisition .
74. Right of
subsequent mortgagee to pay off prior mortgagee.
75. Right of
manse mortgagee against prior and subsequent mortgagees.
76. Liabilities
of mortgagee in possession.
77. Receipts in
lieu of interest.
78. Postponement
of prior mortgagee.
79. Mortgage to
secure uncertain amount when maximum is expressed.
82. Contribution
to mortgage-debt.
83. Power to
deposit in court money due on mortgage.
85. Parties to
suits for foreclosure, sale and redemption.
86 to 90.[Rep. by the code of Civil Procedure, 90
1908( 5 of 1908)]
91. Persons who
may sue for redemption .
92. Subrogation.
94. Rights of
manse mortgagee.
95. Right of
redeeming co-mortgagor to expenses .
96. Mortgage by
deposit of title-deeds.
98. Rights and
liabilities of parties to anomalous mortgage.
99. Attachment
of mortgaged property.
100. Charges.
101. No merger
in case of subsequent encumbrance.
102. Service or
tender on or to agent.
103. Notice,
etc., to or by person incompetent to contract.
104. Power to
make rules.
Of leases of immovable property
105. Lease
defined.
Lessor, lessee, premium and rent
defined.
106. Duration
of certain leases in absence of written
contract or local usage.
107. Leases how
made .
108. Rights and
liabilities of lessor and lessee.
109. Rights of
lessor’s transferee.
110. Exclusion
of day on which term commences.
113. Waiver of notice
to quit.
114. Relief
against forfeiture in certain other
cases.
114A. Relief against
forfeiture in certain other cases.
115. Effect of surrender and
forfeiture on under-leases.
117. Exemption
of leases for agricultural purposes.
Of exchanges
118. “Exchanges”
defined.
119. Right of
party deprived of thing received in exchange .
120. Rights and
liabilities of parties.
121. Exchange
of money.
Of gifts
122. “Gifts” defined.
124. Gift of
executing and future property .
125. Gift to
several of whom one does not accept.
126. When gift
may be suspended or revoked.
127. Onerous gifts.
Onerous gift to disqualified person.
128. Universal
done.
129. Saving of
donations mortis causa and Muhammadan law.
Of transfers of actionable claims.
130. Transfer
of actionable claim.
130A. Transfer of
policy of marine insurance.
131. Notice to
be in writing, signed.
132. Liabilities of transferee of actionable claim.
133. Warranty
of solvency of debtor.
134. Mortgaged
debt.
135. Assignment
of rights under policy of insurance against fire .
135A. Assignment
of rights under policy of marine insurance.
136. Incapacity
of officer connected with Court of Justice.
137. Saving of negotiable instruments, etc.
THE TRANSFER OF PROPERTY ACT, 1882
(4 of 1882)
[17th February, 1882]
An Act to amend the law relating to the Transfer of Property by act of
Parties.
Preamble. -Whereas it is expedient to
define and amend certain parts of the law relating to the transfer of property
by act of parties; it is hereby enacted as follows: -.
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
1. Short
title. -This
Act may be called the Transfer of Property Act, 1882.
Commencement. -It shall come into force on
the first day of July, 1882.
Extent. -It extends in the first instance to the whole
of India except 1[the
territories which, immediately before the Ist November, 1956, were comprised in
Part B States or in the State of Bombay, Punjab and Delhi.
But this Act or any part thereof may by notification in the Official
Gazette be extended to the whole or any part of the said territories by the
State Government concerned.
And any State Government may from time to time, by notification in the
Official Gazette, exempt, either retrospectively or prospectively, any part of
the territories administered by such State Government from all or any of the
following provisions, namely:-
Section 54, paragraph 2 and Sections 3, 59, 107 and 123
Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing part of this section, Section
54, paragraphs 2 and 3, and Sections 59, 107 and 123 shall not extend or be
extended to any district or tract of country for the time being excluded from
the operation of the Indian Registration Act, 1908, (16 of 1908), under the
power conferred by the first section of that Act or otherwise.
1. Subs.
by Adaptation of Laws (NO. 2) Order, 1956, for “Part B States”.
2. Repeal of Acts.-Saving of certain
enactments, incidents, rights, liabilities, etc.-In the territories to which
this Act extends for the time being the enactments specified in the Schedule hereto
annexed shall be repealed to the extent therein mentioned. But nothing herein contained be deemed to
affect-
(a) The
provisions of any enactment not hereby expressly repealed;
(b) Any
terms or incidents of any contract or constitution of properties which are
consistent with the provisions of this Act, and are allowed by the law for the
time being in force;
(c) Any
right, or liability arising out of a legal relation constituted before this Act
comes into force, or any relief in respect of any such right or liability; or
(d) Save as
provided by Section 57 and Chapter IV of this Act, any transfer by operation of
law or by, or in execution of, a decree or order of a Court of competent
jurisdiction;
And nothing in the second Chapter of this Act shall be deemed to affect
any rule of Muhammadan law.
3. Interpretation clause. -In this Act, unless there is something
repugnant in the subject or context, -
“ Immoveable property” does not
include standing timber, growing crops or grass;
“Instrument’ means a non-testamentary instrument;
“ Attested”, in relation to an instrument, means and shall be deemed
always to have meant attested by two or more witnesses each of whom has been
the executant sign or affix his mark to the instrument, or has seen some other
person sign the instrument in the presence and by the direction of the
executant, or has received from the executant a personal acknowledgement of his
signature or mark, or of the signature of such other person, and each of whom
has signed the instrument in the presence of the executant; but it shall not be
necessary that more than one of such witnesses shall have been present at the
same time, and no particular form of attestation shall be necessary;
“Registered” means registered in any part of the territories to which
this Act extends under the law for the time being in force regulating the
registration of documents;
“attached to the earth” means.-
(a) Rooted
in the earth, as in the case of trees and shrubs;
(b) Imbedded
in the earth, as in the case of walls or buildings; or
(c) Attached
to what is so imbedded for the permanent ben6ficial enjoyment of that to which
it is attached;
“Actionable claim” means a claim to any debt, other than a debt secured
by mortgage of immoveable property or by hypothecation or pledge of moveable
property, or to ally beneficial interest in moveable property not in the
possession, either actual or constructive, of the claimant, which the Civil
Courts recognise as affording grounds for relief, whether such debt or
beneficial interest be existent, accruing, conditional or contingent;
“A person is said to have notice” of a fact when he actually knows that
fact, or when, but for wilful abstention from an enquiry or search which he
ought to have made, or gross negligence, he would have known it.
Explanation .
-Where any transaction relating to immoveable property is required by law to be
and has been effected by a registered instrument, any person acquiring such
property or any part of, or share or interest in, such property shall be deemed
to have notice of such instrument as from the date of registration or, where
the property is not all situated in one sub-district, or where the registered
instrument has been registered under sub-section (2) of Section 30 of the
Indian Registration Act, 1908 (16 of 1908), from the earliest date on which any
memorandum of such registered instrument has been filed by any Sub-Registrar
within whose sub-district any part of the property which is being acquired, or of
the property wherein a share or interest is being acquired, is situated:
Provided that-
(1) The
instrument has been registered and its registration completed in the manner
prescribed by the Indian Registration Act, 1908 (16 of 1908), and the rules
made thereunder,
(2) The,
instrument or memorandum has been duly entered or fired, as the case may be, in
books kept under section 51 of that Act, and
(3) The
particulars regarding the transaction which the instrument relates have been
correctly entered in the indexes kept under section 55 of that Act.
Explanation II. -Any person acquiring any
immovable property or any share or interest in any such property shall be
deemed to have notice of the title, if any, of any person who is for the time being in actual
possession thereof.
Explanation III.-A person shall be deemed to
have had had notice of any fact it his agent acquires notice thereof whilst
acting on his behalf in the course of business to which that fact is material:
Provided that, if the agent fraudulently conceals the fact, the
principal shall not be charged with notice thereof as against any person who
was a party to or otherwise cognizant of the fraud.
4. Enactments relating to contracts to be
taken as part of Contract Act and supplemental to the Registration Act. -The Chapters and sections of this Act which
relate to contracts shall be taken as part of the Indian Contract Act, 1872 (9
of 1872).
And Section 54, paragraphs 2 and 3, Sections 59, 107 and 123 shall be
read as supplemental to the Indian Registration Act, 1908 (16 of 1980).
CHAPTER II
OF TRANSFERS OF PROPERTY BY ACT OF PARTIES
(A)Transfer of Property, whether moveable or immoveable
5. “Transfer
of property” defined.-In the following sections “transfer of property” means an act by which a
living person conveys property, in present or in future, to one or more other
living persons, or to himself and one or more other living persons; and “to
transfer property” is to perform such act.
In this section “living person” includes a company or association or
body of individuals, whether incorporated or not, but nothing herein contained
shall affect any law for the time being in force relating to transfer of
property to or by companies, associations or bodies of individuals.
6. What may be transferred.-Property of any kind may be
transferred, except as otherwise provided by this Act or by any other law for
the time being in force,-
(a) The
chance of an heir-apparent succeeding to an estate, the chance of a relation
obtaining a legacy on the death of a kinsman, or any other mere possibility of
a like nature, cannot be transferred.
(b) A mere
right of re-entry for breach of a condition subsequent cannot be transferred to
any one except the owner of the property affected thereby.
(c) An
easement cannot be transferred apart from the dominant heritage.
(d) All
interest in property restricted in its enjoyment to the owner personally cannot
be transferred by him.
(dd) A right
to future maintenance, in whatsoever manner arising, secured or determined,
cannot be transferred.
(e) A mere
right to sue cannot be transferred.
(f) A
public office cannot be transferred, nor can the salary of a public officer,
whether before or after it has become payable.
(g) Stipends
allowed to military naval, air-force and civil pensioners of the Government and
political pensions cannot be transferred.
(h) No
transfer can be made (1) in so far as it is opposed to the nature of the
interest affected thereby, or (2) for an unlawful object or consideration
within the meaning of Section 23 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872 (9 of 1872),
or (3) to a person legally disqualified to be transferee.
(i) Nothing
in this section shall be deemed to authorise a tenant having an untransferable
right of occupancy, the farmer of an estate in respect of which default has
been made in paying revenue, or the lessee of an estate, under the management of a Court of Wards, to assign his
interest as such tenant, farmer or lessee.
7. Persons competent to transfer. -Every person competent to contract and entitled
to transferable property, or authorised to dispose of transferable property not
his own, is competent to transfer such property either wholly or in part, and
either absolutely or conditionally, in the circumstances, to the extent and in
the manner, allowed and prescribed by any law for the time being in force.
8. Operation of transfer.-Unless a different intention is expressed or
necessarily implied, a transfer of property passes forthwith to the transferee
all the interest which the transferor is then capable of passing in the
property and in the legal incidents thereof.
Such incidents include, when the property is
land, the easements annexed thereto. the rents and profits thereof accruing
after the transfer, and ill things attached to the earth;
And, where the property is machinery attached to the earth, the moveable
parts thereof;
And, where the property is a house, the easements annexed thereto, the rent
thereof accruing after the transfer, and the transfer, and the locks, keys,
bars, doors, windows and all other things provided for permanent use therewith;
And, where the property is a debt or other actionable claim, the
securities therefor (except where they are also for other debts or claims not
transferred to the transferee), but not arrears of interest accrued before the
transfer;
And, where the property is money or other property yielding income, the
interest or income thereof
accruing after the transfer takes effect.
9. Oral transfer. -A transfer of property may be made without
writing in every case in which a
writing is not expressly required by law.
10. Condition
restraining alienation.-Where property is transferred subject to a condition or limitation
absolutely restraining the transferee or any person claiming under him from
parting him from parting with or disposing of his interest in the property, the
condition or limitation is void, except in the case of a lease where the condition
is for the benefit of the lessor or those claiming under him: provided that
property may be transferred to or for the benefit of a women (not being a
Hindu, Muhammadan or Buddhist), so that she shall not have power during her
marriage to transfer or charge the same or her beneficial interest therein.
11. Restriction repugnant to interest created. -Where, on a transfer of property, an interest
therein is created absolutely in favour of any person, but the terms of the
transfer direct that such interest shall be applied or enjoyed by him in a
particular manner, he shall be entitled to receive and dispose of such interest
as if there were no such direction.
Where any such direction has been made in respect of one piece
of immoveable property for the purpose of securing the ‘beneficial enjoyment of
another piece of’ such property, nothing in this section shall be deemed to
affect any right which the transferor may have to enforce such direction or any
remedy which he may have in respect of it breach thereof.
12. Condition
making interest determinable on insolvency or attempted alienation.-Where property is
transferred subject to a condition or limitation leaking any interest therein,
reserved or given to or for the benefit of any person, to cease on his becoming
insolvent or endeavoring to transfer or dispose of the same, such condition or
limitation is void.
Nothing in this section applies to a condition in a lease for the
benefit of the lessor or those claiming under him.
13. Transfer
for benefit of unborn person.-Where, on a transfer of property, an interest therein is created for the
benefit of a person not in existence at the date of the transfer, subject to a
prior interest created by the same transfer, the interest created for the
benefit of such person shall not take effect, unless it extends to the whole of
the remaining interest of the transferor in the property.
Illustration
A transfers property of which he is the owner to B in trust for A and
his intended wife successively for their lives, and after the death of the
survivor, for the eldest son of the intended marriage for life, and after his
death for A’s second son. The interest
so created for the benefit of the eldest son does not take effect, because it
does not extend to the whole of A’s remaining interest in the property.
14.
Rule against perpetuity.-No
transfer of property can operate to create an interest which is to take effect
after the life-time of one or more persons living at the date of such transfer,
and the minority of some person who shall be in existence at the expiration of
that period, and to whom, if he attains full age, the interest created is to
belong.
15. Transfer
to class some of whom come under sections 13 and 14.-If, on a transfer of property,
an interest therein is created for the benefit of a class of persons with
regard to some of whom such interest fails by reason of any of the rules
contained in Sections 13 and 14, such interest fails in regard to those persons
only and not in regard to the whole class.
16. Transfer
to take effect on failure of prior interest-Where, by reason of any of
the rules contained in Sections 13 and 14, an interest created for the benefit
of a person or of a class of persons fails in regard to such person or the
whole of such class, any interest created in the same transaction and intended
to take effect after or upon failure of such prior interest also fails.
17. Direction
for accumulation.-
(1) Where
the terms of a transfer of property direct that the income arising from the
property shall be accumulated either wholly or in part during a period longer
than-
(a) The life
of the transferor, or
(b) A period
of eighteen years from the date of transfer,
Such direction shall, save as hereinafter provided, be void to the
extent to which the period, during which the accumulation is directed exceeds
the longer of the aforesaid periods, and at the end of such last-mentioned
period the property and the income thereof shall be disposed of as if the
period during which the accumulation has been directed to be made had elapsed.
(2) This
section shall not affect any direction for accumulation for the purpose of-
(i) The
payment of the debts of the transferor or any other person taking any interest
under the transferor; or
(ii) The
provision of portion for children or remoter issue of the transfer; or of any
other person taking any interest under the transfer; or
(iii) The
preservation or maintenance of the property transferred and such direction may
be made accordingly.
18. Transfer
in perpetuity for benefit of public. -The restrictions in sections 14, 16 and17 shall not apply in the case of
a transfer of property for the benefit of the public in the advancement of
religion, knowledge, commerce, health, safety or any other object beneficial to
mankind.
19. Vested interest. -Where, on a transfer of property, an interest
therein is created in favour of a person without specifying the time when it is
to take effect, or in terms specifying that it is to take effect forthwith or
on the happening of an event which must happen, such interest is vested, unless
a contrary intention appears from the terms of the transfer.
A vested interest is not defeated by the death of the transferee before
he obtains possession.
Explanation. -An intention that an
interest shall not be vested is not to be inferred merely from a provision
whereby the enjoyment thereof is postponed, or whereby a prior interest in the
same property is given or reserved to some other person, or whereby income
arising from the property is directed to be accumulated until the time of
enjoyment arrives, or from a provision that if a particular event shall happen
the interest shall pass to another person.
20. When
unborn person acquires vested interest on transfer for his benefit. - Where,
on a transfer of property, an interest therein is created for the benefit of a
person not then living, he acquires upon his birth, unless a contrary intention
appears from the terms of the transfer, a vested interest, although he may not
be entitled to the enjoyment thereof immediately on his birth.
21. Contingent
interest. -Where, on a transfer of property, an interest therein is created in
favour of a person to take effect only on the happening of a specified uncertain
event, or if a specified uncertain event shall not happen, such person thereby
acquires a contingent interest in the property. Such interest becomes a vested interest, in the former case, on
the happening of the event, in the latter, when the happening of the event
becomes impossible.
Exception.-Where, under a transfer of
property, a person becomes entitled to an interest therein upon attaining a
particular age, and the transferor also gives to him absolutely the income to
arise from such interest before he reaches that age, or directs the income or
so much thereof as may be necessary to be applied for his benefit, Such
interest is not contingent.
22. Transfer to members of a class who attain a
particular age. -Where, on a transfer of property, an interest therein is created in
favour of such members only of a class as shall attain a particular age, such
interest does not vest in any member of the class who-has not attained that
age.
23. Transfer
contingent on happening of specified uncertain event. -Where,
on a transfer of property, an interest therein is to accrue to a specified
person if a specified uncertain event shall happen, and no time is mentioned
for the occurrence of that event, the interest fails unless such event happens
before, or at the same time as, the intermediate or precedent interest ceases
to exist.
24. Transfer
to such of certain persons as survive at
some period not specified. - Where, on a transfer of property,
an interest therein is to accrue to such of certain persons as shall be
surviving at some period, but the exact period is not specified, the interest
shall go to such of them as shall be alive when the intermediate or precedent
interest ceases to exist, unless a contrary intention appears from the terms of
the transfer.
Illustration
A transfers property to B for life, and after his death to C and D,
equally to be divided between them, or to the survivor of them.. C dies during
the life of B. D survives B. At B’s death the property passes
to D.
25. Conditional
transfer.-An interest created on a transfer of property and dependent upon a
condition fails if the fulfillment of the condition is impossible, or is
forbidden by law, or is of such a nature that, if permitted, it would defeat
the provisions of any law, or is fraudulent, or involves or implies injury to
the person or property of another, or the Court regards it as immoral or
opposed to public policy.
Illustrations
A lets a farm to B on condition that he shall walk a hundred miles in an
hour. The lease is void.
A gives Rs. 500 to B on condition that he shall marry A’s daughter C. At
the date of the transfer C was dead.
The transfer is void.
A transfers Rs. 500 to B on condition that she shall murder C. The
transfer is void.
A transfers Rs. 500 to this niece C, if site will desert her
husband. The transfer is void.
26. Fulfilment
of condition precedent.-Where the terms of a transfer of property impose a condition to be
fulfilled before a person can take an interest in the property, the condition
shall be deemed to have been fulfilled if it has been substantially complied
with.
Illustrations
(a) A
transfers Rs. 5000 to B on condition that lie shall marry with the consent of C,
D and E. E dies. B marries with the
consent of C and D. B is deemed to have fulfilled the condition.
(b) A
transfers Rs. 5000 to B on condition that he shall marry with the consent of C,
D and E. B marries without the consent of C, D and E, but obtains their consent
after the marriage. B has not fulfilled
the condition.
27. Conditional transfer to one person coupled
with transfer to another on failure of prior disposition. -Where, on a transfer of property, an interest
therein is created in favour of one person, and by the same transaction an
ulterior disposition of the same interest is made in favour of another, if the
prior disposition under the transfer
shall fail, the ulterior disposition shall take effect upon the failure of the
prior disposition, although the failure may not have occurred in the manner
contemplated by the transferor.
But, where the intention of the parties to the transaction is that the
ulterior disposition shall take effect only in the event of the prior
disposition failure in a particular manner, the ulterior disposition shall not
take effect unless the prior disposition fails in that manner.
Illustration
A transfers Rs. 500 to B on condition that he shall execute a certain
lease within three months after A’s death, and, if lie should neglect to do so,
to C. B (lies in A’s lifetime. .The disposition in favour of C takes effect.
A transfers property to his wife; but, in case site should die in his
life-time, transfer to B that which he had transferred to her. A and his wife perish together, under
circumstances which make it impossible to prove that she died before him. The disposition in favour of B does not take
effect.
28. Ulterior transfer conditional on happening or
not happening of specified event. -On a transfer of property all interest therein may be created to accrue
to any person with the condition superadded that in case a specified uncertain
event shall happen such interest shall pass to another person, or that in case
a specified uncertain event shall not happen such interest shall pass to
another person. In each case the dispositions are subject to the rules
contained in Sections 10, 12, 21, 22, 23, 241, 25 and 27.
29. Fulfilment of condition subsequent. -An ulterior disposition of the kind
contemplated by the last preceding section cannot, take effect unless the
condition is strictly fulfilled.
Illustration
A transfers Rs. 500 to B, to be paid to him on In,, attaining his majority or marrying, with a proviso
that, if B dies as minor or marries without C’s consent, the Rs. 500 shall go
to D. B marries when only 17 years of age, without C’s consent. The transfer to D takes effect.
30. Prior disposition not affected by invalidity
of ulterior disposition.-If the ulterior disposition is not valid, the prior disposition is not
affected by it.
Illustration
A transfers a farm to B for her life, and, if she does not desert her
husband to C. B is entitled to the farm during her life as if no condition had
been inserted.
31. Condition that transfer shall cease to have
effect in-case specified uncertain event happens or does not happen.-Subject to the provisions of
Section 12, on a transfer of property an interest therein may be created with
the condition superadded that it shall cease to exist in case a specified
uncertain event shall happen, or in case a specified uncertain event shall not
happen.
Illustrations
A transfers a farm to B for his life, with a proviso that, in case B
cuts down a certain wood, the transfer shall cease to have any effect. B cuts down the wood. He loses his life-interest in the farm.
A transfers a turn to B, provided that, if B shall not go to England
within three years after the date of the transfer, his interest in the farm
shall cease. B does not go to England
within the term prescribed. His
interest in the farm ceases.
32. Such
condition must not be invalid. -In order that a condition that an interest shall cease to exist may be
valid, it is necessary that the event to which it relates be one which could
legally constitute the condition of the creation of an interest.
33. Transfer conditional on performance of act,
no time being specified for performance. -Where on a transfer of property, an interest
therein is created subject to a condition that the person taking it shall
perform a certain act, but no time is specified for the performance of the act,
the condition is broken when he renders impossible, permanently or for an
indefinite period, the performance of the act.
34. Transfer conditional on performance of act,
time being specified. -Where an act is to be performed by a person either as a condition to be
fulfilled before an interest created on a transfer of property is enjoyed by
him, or as a condition on the non-fulfillment of which the interest is to pass
from him to another person, and a time is specified for the performance of the
act, if such performance within the specified time is prevented by the fraud of
a person who would be directly benefited by non-fulfillment of the condition,
such further time shall as against him be allowed for performing the act as
shall be requisite to make up for the delay caused by such fraud. But if no time is specified for the
performance of the act, then, if its performance is by the fraud of a person
interested in the non-fulfillment of the condition rendered impossible or
indefinitely postponed, the condition shall as against him be deemed to have
been fulfilled.
Election
35. Election
when necessary. -Where a person professes to transfer property which he has no right to
transfer, and as part of the same transaction confers any benefit on the owner
of the property, such owner must elect either to confirm such transfer or to
dissent from it; and in the latter case he shall relinquish the benefit so
conferred, and the benefit so relinquished shall revert to the transferor or
his representative as if it had not been disposed of, subject nevertheless, where
the transfer is gratuitous, and the transferor has, before the election, died
or otherwise become incapable of making a fresh transfer, and in all cases
where the transfer is for consideration, to the charge of making good to the
disappointed transferee the amount or value to the property attempted to be
transferred to him.
Illustrations
The farm of Sultanpur is the property of C and worth Rs. 800. A by an instrument of gift professes to
transfer it to B, giving by the same instrument Rs. 1,000 to C. C elects to
retain the farm. He forfeits the gift
of Rs. 1,000.
In the same case, A dies before the election. His representative must out of the Rs. 1,000 pay Rs. 800 to B.
The rule in the first paragraph of this section applies whether the
transferor does or does not believe that which he professes to transfer to be
his own.
A person taking no benefit directly under a transaction, but deriving a
benefit under it indirectly, need not elect.
A person who in his one capacity takes a benefit under the transaction
may in another dissent therefrom.
Exception to the last preceding four rules. -Where a particular benefit is expressed to be conferred on the owner of the
property which the transferor professes to transfer, and such benefit is
expressed to be in lieu of that property, if such owner claims the property, he
must relinquish the particular benefit, but he is not bound to relinquish any
other benefit conferred upon him by the same transaction.
Acceptance of the benefit by the person on whom it is conferred
constitutes an election by him to confirm the transfer, if he is aware of his
duty to elect and of those circumstances, which would influence the judgment of
a reasonable man in making an election, or if he waives enquiry into the
circumstances.
Such knowledge or waiver shall, in the absence of evidence to the
contrary, be presumed, if the person on whom the benefit has been conferred has
enjoyed it for two years without doing any act to express dissent.
Such knowledge or waiver may be inferred from any act of his, which
renders it impossible, to place the persons interested in the property
professed to be transferred ill the same condition as if such act had not been
done.
Illustration
A transfer to B an estate to which C is entitled, and as part of the
same transaction gives C a coal-mine C takes possession of the mine and
exhausts. He has thereby confirmed the
transfer of the estate to B.
If he does not within one year after the date of the transfer signify to
the transferors or his representatives his intention to confirm or to dissent
from the transfer, the transferor or his representative may, upon the
expiration of that period require him to make his election; and, if he does not
comply with such requisition within a reasonable time after he has received it,
he shall be deemed to have elected to confirm the transfer.
In case of disability, the election shall be postponed until the
disability ceases, or until the election is made by some competent authority.
Apportionment
36. Apportionment
of periodical payments on determination of interest of person entitled. -In the absence of a contract or local usage to
the contrary, in rents annuities, pensions, dividends and other periodical
payments in the nature of income shall, upon the transfer of the interest of
the person entitled to receive such payments, be deemed, as between the
transferor and the transferee, to accrue due from day to day, and to be
apportionable accordingly, but to be payable on the days appointed for the
payment thereof.
37. Apportionment
of benefit of obligation on severance. -When, in consequence of a transfer, property is divided and held in
several shares, and thereupon the benefit of any obligation relating to the
property as a whole passes from one to several owners of the property, the
corresponding duty shall, in the absence of a contract, to the contrary amongst
the owners, be performed in favour of each of such owners in proportion to the
value of his share in the property, provided that the duty can be severed and
that the severance does not substantially increase the burden of the
obligation; but if the duty cannot be severed, or if the severance would
substantially increase the burden of the obligation the duty shall be performed
for the benefit of such one of the several owners as they shall jointly s
designate for that purpose:
Provided that no person on whom the burden of the obligation lies shall
be answerable for failure to discharge it in manner provided by this section,
unless and until lie has had reasonable notice of the severance.
Nothing in this section applies to leases for agricultural purposes
unless and until the State Government by notification in the Official Gazette
so directs.
Illustrations
(a) A
sells to B, C and D a house situated in a village and leased to E at an annual
rent of Rs. 30 and delivery of one fat
sheep, B having provided half the purchase-money and C and D one quarter each. E, Shaving notice of this, must pay Rs. 15
to B, Rs. 7.50 to C and must deliver the sheep according to the joint direction
of B, C and D.
(b) In the
same case, each house in the village being bound to provide ten day’s labour
each year on a dyke to prevent in undation.
E had agreed as a term of his lease to perform this work for A. B, C and
D severally require E to perform the ten days’ work due on account of the house
of each. E is not bound to do more than
ten days’ work in all, according to such directions as B, C and D may join in
giving.
(B) Transfer of Immoveable Property
38. Transfer by person authorised only under
certain circumstances to transfer. Where any person, authorised
only under circumstances in their nature variable to dispose of immoveable
property, transfers such property for consideration, alleging the existence of
such circumstances, they shall, as between the transferee on the one part and
the transferor and other persons (if any) affected by the transfer on the other
part. be deemed to have existed, if the transferee, after using reasonable care
to ascertain the existence of such circumstances, has acted in good faith.
Illustration
A, a Hindu widow, whose husband has left collateral heirs, alleging that
the property held by her as such is insufficient for her maintenance agrees,
for purposes neither religious nor charitable to sell a field, part of such
property, to B. B satisfies himself by reasonable enquiry that the income of
the property is insufficient for A’s maintenance, and that the sale of the
field is necessary, and acting in good faith, buys the field from A. As between
B on the one part and A and the collateral heirs on the other part a necessity
for the sale shall be deemed to have existed.
39. Transfer
where third person is entitled to maintenance. -Where a third person has a right to receive
maintenance, or a provision for advancement or marriage, from the profits of
immoveable property, and such property is transferred, the right may be
enforced against the transferee, if he has notice thereof or if the transfer is
gratuitous; but not against a transferee for consideration and without notice
of the right nor against such property in his hands.
40. Burden
of obligation imposing restriction on use of land. -Where,
for the more beneficial enjoyment of his own immoveable property, a third
person has, independently of any interest in the immoveable prosperty of
another or of any easement thereon, a right to restrain the enjoyment in a
particular manner of the latter property Or
Or of obligation annexed to ownership but not
amounting to interest or easement. - Where a third person is
entitled to the benefit of an obligation arising out of contract and annexed to
the ownership of immoveable property, but not amounting to an interest therein
or easement thereon, such right or obligation may be enforced against a
transferee with notice thereof or a gratuitous transferee of the property
affected thereby, but not against a transferee for consideration and without notice
of the right or obligation, not against such property in his hands.
Illustration
A contract to sell Sultanpur to B. While the contract is still in force
he sells Sultanpur to C, who has notice of the contract. B may enforce the
contract against C to the same extent as against A.
41. Transfer
by ostensible owner. -Where, with the consent, express or implied,
of the persons interested in immoveable property, a person is the ostensible
owner of such property and transfers the same for consideration, the transfer
shall not be voidable on the ground that the transferor was not authorised to
make it: provided that the transferee, after taking reasonable care to
ascertain that the transferor had power to make the transfer has acted-in good
faith.
42. Transfer
by person having authority to revoke former transfer. -Where a person transfers any immoveable
property, reserving power to revoke the transfer and subsequently transfers the
property for consideration to another transferee, such transfer operates in favour
of such transferee (subject to my condition attached to the exercise of the
power) as a revocation of the former transfer to the extent of the power.
Illustration
A lets a house to B, and reserves power to revoke the lease if. in the
opinion of a specified surveyor, B should make a use of it detrimental to its
value. Afterwards thinking that such a
use has been made, lets the house to C. This operates as a revocation of B’s
lease subject to the opinion of the surveyor as to B’s use of the house having
been detrimental to its value.
43. Transfer
by unauthorised person who subsequently acquires interest in property
transferred. -Where a person fraudulently or erroneously represents that he is
authorised to transfer certain immoveable property and professes to transfer
such property for consideration, such transfer shall, at the option of the
transferee, operate on any interest, which the transferor may acquire in such
property at any time during which the contract of transfer subsists.
Nothing in this section shall impair the right of transferees in good
faith for consideration without notice of the existence of the said option.
Illustration
A, a Hindu who has separated from his father B, sells to C three fields,
X, Y and Z representing that A is authorised to transfer the same. Of these fields Z does not belong to A, it
having been retrained been B on the partition; but on B’s dying A as heir
obtains Z. C, not having rescinded the contract of sale, may require A to
deliver Z to him.
44. Transfer
by one co-owner. -Where one of two or more co-owners of immoveable property legally
competent in that behalf transfers his share of such property or any interest
therein, the transferee acquires as to such share or interest, and so far as is
necessary to give, effect to the transfer, the transferor’s right to joint
possession or other common or part enjoyment of the property, and to enforce a
partition of the same, but subject to the conditions and liabilities affecting
at the date of the transfer, the share or interest so transferred.
Where the transferee of a share of a dwelling house belonging to an
undivided family is not a member of the family, nothing in this section shall be
deemed to entitle him to joint possession or other common or part enjoyment of
the house.
45. Joint
transfer for consideration. -Where immoveable property is transferred for
consideration to two or more persons and such consideration is paid out of a fund
belonging to them in common, they are, in the absence of a contract to the
contrary, respectively entitled to interests in such property identical, as
nearly as may be, with the interests to which they were respectively entitled
in the fund; and, where such consideration is paid out of separate funds
belonging to them respectively, they are, in the absence of a contract to the
contrary, respectively entitled to interests in such property in proportion to
the shares of these consideration which they respectively Advanced.
In the absence of evidence as to the interests in the fund to which they
were respectively entitled, or as to the shares, which they respectively
advanced, such persons shall be presumed to be equally interested in the
property.
46. Transfer
for consideration by person having distinct interests. -Where immoveable property is transferred for
consideration by persons having distinct interests therein, the transferors
are, in the absence of a contract to the contrary, entitled to share in the
consideration equally, where their interests in the property were of equal
value, and, where such interests were of unequal value, proportionately to the
value of their respective interests.
Illustrations
(a) A, owing a moiety, and B and C, each a
quarter share, of mauza Sultanpur, exchange all eighth share of that mauza for
a quarter share of mauza. There being no agreement to the contrary. A is entitled to an eighth share in Lalpura,
and B and C’ each to a sixteenth share in the mauza.
(b) A,
being entitled to a life-interest in mauza Atrali and B and C to the reversion,
sell the mauza for Rs. 1,000. A’s
life-interest is ascertained to be worth Rs. 600, the reversion Rs. 400. A is entitled to receive Rs. 600 out of the
purchase-money. B and C to receive Rs.
400.
47. Transfer
by co-owner of share in common property. -Where several owners of immoveable property transfer a share therein
without specifying that the transfer is to take effect on any particular share
or shares of the transferors, the transfer, as among such transferors, takes
effect on such shares equally where the shares were equal, and, where they were
unequal, proportionately to the extent of such shares.
Illustration
A, the owner of en eight-anna share, and B and C, each the owner of a
four-anna share, in mauza Sultanpur, transfer a two-anna share it. the mauza to
D, without specifying from which of their several shares the transfer is
made. To give effect to the transfer
one-anna share is taken from the share of A, and half-an-anna share from each
of the shares of B and C.
48. Priority
of rights created by transfer. -Where a person purports to create by transfer at different times rights
in or over the same immoveable property, and such rights cannot all exist or be
exercised to their full extent together, each later created right shall, in the
absence of a special contract or reservation binding the earlier transferees,
be subject to the rights previously created.
49. Transferee’s
right under policy. -Where immoveable property is transferred for consideration, and such
property or any part thereof is at the date of the transfer insured against
loss or damage by fire, the transferee, in case of such loss or damage, may, in
the absence of a contract to the contrary, require any money which the
transferor actually receives under the policy, or so much thereof as may be
necessary, to be applied in reinstating the property.
50. Rent
bona fide paid to holder under defective title. - No person shall be chargeable with any rents
or profits of any immoveable property, which he has in good faith paid or
delivered to any person of whom he in good faith held such property,
notwithstanding it may afterwards appear that the person to whom such payment
or delivery was made had not right to receive such rents or profits.
Illustration
A lets a filed to B at a rent of Rs. 50, and then transfers the field to
C. B, having no notice of the transfer, in good faith pays the rent to A. B in
not chargeable with the rent so paid.
51. Improvements
made by bona fide holders under defective titles. -When the transferee of immoveable property
makes any improvement on the property, believing in good faith that he is
absolutely entitled thereto, and he subsequently evicted therefrom by any
person having a better title, the transferee has a right to require the person
causing the eviction either to have the value of the improvement estimated and
paid or secured to the transferee, or to sell interest in the property to the
transferee at the then market value thereof, irrespective of the value of such
improvement.
The amount to be paid or secured in respect of such improvement shall be
the estimated value thereof at the time of the eviction.
When, under the circumstances aforesaid, the transferee has planted or
sown on the property crops which are growing when he is evicted there form, he
is entitled to such crops and to free ingress and egress to gather and carry
them.
52. Transfer
of property pending suit relating thereto. -During the pendency in any Court having authority within the limits of
India excluding the State of Jammu and Kashmir or established beyond such
limits by the Central Government of any suit or proceedings which is not
collusive and in which any right to immoveable property is directly and
specifically in question, the property cannot be transferred or otherwise dealt
with by any party to the suit or proceeding so as to affect the rights of any
other party thereto under any decree or order which may be made therein, except
under the authority of the Court and on such terms as it may impose.
Explanation. -For the purposes of this
section, the pendency of a suit or proceeding shall be deemed to commence from
the date of the presentation of the plaint or the institution of the proceeding
in a Court of competent jurisdiction, and to continue until the suit or
proceeding has been disposed of by a final decree or order and complete
satisfaction or discharge of such decree or order has been obtained, or has
become unobtainable by reason of the expiration of any period of limitation
prescribed for the execution thereof by any law for the time being in force.
(1) Every
transfer of immoveable property made with intent to defeat or delay the
creditors of the transferor shall be voidable at the option of any creditor so
defeated or delayed.
Nothing in this sub-section shall impair the rights of a transferee in
good faith and for consideration.
Nothing in this sub-section shall affect any law for the time being in
force relating to insolvency.
A suit instituted by a creditor (which term include a decree-holder
whether he has or has not applied for execution of his decree) to avoid a
transfer on the ground that it has been made with intent to defeat or delay the
creditors of the transferor shall be instituted on behalf of, or for the
benefit of, all creditors.
(2) Every
transfer of immoveable property made without consideration with intent to defraud
a subsequent transferee shall be voidable at the option of such transferee.
For the purposes of this sub-section, no transfer made without
consideration shall be deemed to have been made with intent to defraud by
reason only that a subsequent transfer for consideration was made.
53A. Part performance. -Where
any person contracts to transfer for consideration any immoveable property by
writing signed by him or on his behalf from which the terms necessary to
constitute the transfer can be ascertained with reasonable certainty,
And the transferee has, in part performance of the contract, taken
possession of the property or any part thereof, or the transferee, being
already in possession, continues in possession in part performance of the
contract and has done some act in furtherance of the contract,
And the transferee has performed or is willing to perform his part of
the contract, then, notwithstanding that the contract, though required to be
registered, has not been registered, or, where there is an instrument of
transfer, that the transfer has not been completed in the manner prescribed
therefor by the law for the time being in force, the transferor or any person
claiming under him shall be debarred from enforcing against the transferee and
persons claiming under him any right in respect of the property of which the transferee has taken or
continued in possession, other than a right expressly provided by the terms of
the contract:
Provided that nothing in this section shall affect the rights of a transferee
for consideration who has no notice of the contract or of the part performance
thereof.
CHAPTER III
OF SALES OF IMMOVEABLE PROPERTY
54. “Sale”
defined. - “Sale” is a transfer
of ownership in exchange for a price paid or promised or part-paid and
part-promised.
Sale how made. -Such transfer, in the case
of tangible immoveable property of the value of one hundred rupees and upward,
or in the case of a reversion or other intangible thing, can be made only by a
registered instrument.
In the case of tangible immoveable property of a value less than one
hundred rupees, such transfer may be made either by a registered instrument or
by delivery of the property.
Delivery of tangible immoveable property takes place when the seller
places the buyer, or such person as he directs, in possession of the property.
Contract for sale. - A contract for the sale of
immoveable property is a contract that a sale of such property shall take place
on terms settled between the parties.
It does not, of itself, create any interest in or charge on such
property.
55. Rights
and liabilities of buyer and seller. -In the absence of a contract to the contrary, the buyer and the seller
of immoveable property respectively are subject to the liabilities, and have
the rights, mentioned in the rules next following or such of them as are
applicable to the property sold: -
(1) The
seller is bound. -
(a) To
disclose to the buyer any material defect in the property or in the seller’s
title thereto of which the seller is, and the buyer is not, aware, and which
the buyer could not with ordinary care discover;
(b) To
produce to the buyer on his request for examination all documents of title relating
to the property, which are in the seller’s possession or power;
(c) To
answer to the best of his information all relevant questions put to him by the
buyer in respect to the property or the title thereto;
(d) On
payment or tender of the amount due in respect of the price, to execute a
proper conveyance of the property when the buyer tenders it to him for
execution at a proper time and place;
(e) Between
the date of the contract of sale and the delivery of the property, to take as
much care of the property and all documents of title relating thereto which are
in his possession as an owner of ordinary prudence would take of such property
and documents;
(f) To
give, on being so required, the buyer, or such person as he directs, such possession
of the property as its nature admits;
(g) To pay
all public charges and rent accrued due in respect of the property up to the
date of the sale, the interest on all encumbrances on such property due on such
date, and, except where the property is sold subject to encumbrances, to
discharge all encumbrances on the property then existing.
(2) The
seller shall be deemed to contract with the buyer that the interest, which the
seller professes to transfer to the buyer, subsists and that he has power to
transfer the same:
Provided
that, where a person makes the sale in a fiduciary character, he shall be
deemed to contract with the buyer that the seller has done no act whereby the
property is encumbered or whereby he is hindered from transferring it.
The benefit of the contract mentioned in this rule shall be annexed to,
and shall go with, the interest of the transferee as such, and may be enforced
by every person in whom that interest is for the whole or any part thereof from
time to time vested.
(3) Where the whole of
the purchase-money has been paid to the seller, he is also bound to deliver to
the buyer all documents of title rebating to the property, which are in the
seller’s possession or power:
Provided that, (a) where the seller retains any put of the property
comprised in such documents, he is entitled to retain them all, and, (b) where
the whole of such property is sold to different buyers, the buyers of the lot
of greatest value is entitled to such documents. But in case (a) the seller, and in case (b) the buyer, of the lot
of greatest value, is bound, upon every reasonable request by the buyer, or by
any of the other buyers, as the case may be, and at the cost of the person
making the request, to produce the said documents and furnish such true copies
thereof or extracts therefrom as he may require; and in the meantime, the
seller, or the buyer of the lot of greatest value, as the case may be, shall
keep the said documents safe, uncancelled and undefaced, unless prevented from
so doing by fire or other inevitable accident.
(4) The
seller is entitled.-
(a) To the
rents and profits of the property till the ownership thereof passes to the
buyer;
(b) Where
the ownership of the property has passed to the buyer before payment of the
whole of the purchase-money, to a charge upon the property in the hands of the
buyer, any transferee without consideration or any transferee with notice of
the non-payment, for the amount of the purchase-money, or any part thereof
remaining unpaid, and for interest, such amount or part from the date on which
possession has been delivered.
(5) The
buyer is bound-
(a) To
disclose to the seller any fact as to the nature or extent of the seller’s interest
in the property of which the buyer is aware, but of which he has reason to
believe that the seller is not aware, and which materially increases the value
of such interest;
(b) To pay
or tender, at the time and place of completing the sale, the purchase-money to
the seller or such person as he directs: provided that, where the property is
sold free from encumbrances, the buyer may retain out of the purchase-money the
amount of any encumbrances on the property existing at the date of the sale,
and shall pay the amount so retained to the persons entitled thereto;
(c) Where
the ownership of the property has passed to the buyer, to bear any loss arising
from the destruction, injury or decrease in value of the property not caused by
the seller;
(d) Where
the ownership of the property has passed to the buyer, as between himself and
the seller, to pay all public charges and rent which may become payable in
respect of the property, the principal moneys due on any encumbrances subject
to which the property is sold, and the interest thereon afterwards accruing
due.
(6) The
buyer is entitled-
(a) Where
the ownership of the property has passed to him, to the benefit of any
improvement in, or increase in value of, the property, and to the rents and
profits thereof;
(b) Unless
he has improperly declined to accept delivery of the property, to a charge on
the property, as against the seller and all persons claiming under him, to the
extent of the seller’s interest in the property, for the amount of any
purchase-money properly paid by the buyer in anticipation of the delivery and
for interest on such amount; and, when he properly declines to accept the
delivery, also for the earnest (if any) and for the costs (if any) awarded to
him of a suit to compel specific performance of the contract or to obtain a
decree for its recession.
An omission to make such disclosures as are mentioned in this section,
paragraph (1), clause (a) and paragraph (5), clause (a), is fraudulent.
56. Marshalling
by subsequent purchaser. -If the owner of two or more properties mortgages them to one person and
then sells one or more of the properties to another person, the buyer is, in
the absence of a contract to the contrary, entitled to have the mortgaged-debt
satisfied out of the property or properties not sold to him, so far as the same
will extend, but not so as to prejudice the rights of the mortgagee or persons
claiming under him or of any other person who has for consideration acquired an
interest in any of the properties.
Discharge of Encumbrances on Sale
57. Provision
by Court for encumbrances and sale freed therefrom. –
(a) Where
immoveable property subject to any encumbrances, whether immediately payable or
not, is sold by the court or in execution of a decree, or out of court, the
court may, if it thinks fit, on the application of any party to the sale,
direct or allow payment into court, -
(1) In case
of an annual or monthly sum charged on the property, or of a capital sum
charged on a determinable interest, in the property of such amount as, when
invested in securities of the Central Government, the court considers will be
sufficient, by means of the interest thereof, to keep down or otherwise provide
for that charge, and
(2) In any
other case of a capital sum charged on the property ofs the amount sufficient
to meet the encumbrance and any interest due thereon.
But in either case there shall also be paid into court such additional
amount as the court considers will be sufficient to meet the contingency of
further costs, expenses and interest, and any other contingency, except
depreciation of investment not exceeding one-tenth part of the original amount
to be paid in, unless the court for special reasons (which it shall record) thinks fit to require a large additional
amount.
(b) Thereupon
the court may, if it thinks fit, and after notice to the encumbrance, unless the court, for reasons to be recorded
in writing, thinks fit to dispense with such notice, declare the property to be
freed from the encumbrance, and make any order for conveyance, or vesting
order, proper for giving effect to the sale, and give directions for the
retention and investment of the money in court.
(c) After
notice served on the persons interested in or entitled to the money or fund in
court, the court may direct payment or transfer there of to the persons
entitled to receive or give a discharge for the same, and generally may give
directions respecting the application or distribution of the capital or income
thereof.
(d) An
appeal shall lie from any declaration, order or direction under this section as
if the same were a decree.
(e) In this
section “Court” means (1) a High Court in the exercise of its ordinary or
extraordinary original civil jurisdiction, (2) the Court of a District Judge
within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the property or any part thereof
is situate, (3) any other court which the State Government may, from time to
time, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare to be competent to
exercise the jurisdiction conferred by this section.
CHAPTER IV
OF MORTGAGES OF IMMOVEABLE PROPERTY AND CHARGES
58. “Mortgage”,
“mortgagor”, “mortgagee”, “mortgage-money” and “mortgage deed” defined. –
(a) A
mortgage is the transfer of an interest in specific immoveable property for the
purpose of securing the payment of money advanced or to be advanced by way of
loan, an existing or future debt, or the performance of an engagement, which
may give rise to a pencuniary liability.
The transferor is called a mortgagor, the transferee a mortgagee; the
principal money and interest of which payment is secured for the time being are
called the mortgage money, and the instrument (if any) by which the transfer is
effected is called a mortgage-deed.
(b) Simple
mortgage. -Where, without delivering possession of the mortgaged property, the
mortgagor binds himself personally to pay the mortgage-money, and agrees,
expressly or impliedly, that, in the event of his failing to pay according to
his contract, the mortgagee shall have a right to cause the mortgaged property
to be sold and the proceeds of sale to be applied, so far as may be necessary,
in payment of the mortgage money, the transaction is called a simple mortgage and
the mortgagee a simple mortgagee.
(c) Mortgage
by conditional sale. -Where, the mortgagor ostensibly sells the mortgaged property
On condition that on default of payment of
the mortgage-money on a certain date the sale shall become absolute, or son
condition that on such payment being made the sale shall become void, or on
condition that on such payment being made the buyer shall transfer the property
to the seller, the transaction is called mortgage by conditional sale and the
mortgagee a mortgagee by conditional sale:
Provided that no such transaction shall be deemed to be a mortgage,
unless the condition is embodied in the document, which effects or purports, to
affect the sale.
(d) Usufructuary
mortgage. -Where the mortgagor delivers possession or expressly or by implication
binds himself to deliver possession of the mortgaged property to the mortgagee,
and authorises him to retain such possession until payment of the
mortgage-money, and to receive the rents and profits accruing from the property
or any part of such rents and profits and to appropriates the same in lieu of
interest or in payment of the mortgage-money, or partly in lieu of interest or
partly in payment of the mortgage-money, the transaction is called an
usufructuary mortgage and the mortgagee an usufructuary mortgagee.
(e) English
mortgage. -Where
the mortgagor binds himself to repay the mortgage money on a certain date, and
transfers the mortgaged property absolutely to the mortgagee, but subject to a
proviso that he will re-transfer it to the mortgagor upon payment of the
mortgage-money as agreed, the transaction is called an English mortgage.
(f) Mortgage
by deposit of title deeds. -Where a person in any
of the following towns, namely, the towns of Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay and
in any other town which the State Government concerned may, by notification in
the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf, delivers to a creditor or his
agent documents of title to immoveable property, with intent to create a
security thereon, the transaction is called a mortgage by deposit of
title-deeds.
(g) Anomalous
mortgage. -A
mortgage, which is not a simple mortgage, a Mortgage by conditional sale, a
usufructuary mortgage, an English mortgage or a mortgage by deposit of title
deeds within the meaning of this section is called an anomalous mortgage.
59. Mortgage when to be by assurance. -Where the principal money secured is one
hundred rupees or upwards, a mortgage other than a mortgage by deposit of title
deeds can be affected only by a registered instrument signed by the mortgagor
and attested by at least two witnesses.
Where the principal money secured is less than one hundred rupees, a
mortgage may be affected either by a registered instrument signed and attested
as aforesaid or (except in the case of a simple mortgage) by delivery of the
property.
59A. References to mortgagees and mortgagees to
include persons deriving title form them. -Unless otherwise expressly provided, references in this Chapter to
mortgagors and mortgagees shall be deemed to include references to persons
deriving title from them respectively.
Rights and Liabilities of Mortgagor
60. Right of mortgagor to redeem. -At any time after the principal money has
become due, the mortgagor has a right, on payment or tender, at a proper time
and place, of the mortgage-money, to require the mortgagee (a) to deliver to
the mortgagor the mortgage-deed and all documents relating to the mortgaged
property which are in the possession or power of the mortgagee, (b) where the
mortgagee is in possession of the mortgaged property, to deliver possession
thereof to the mortgagor, and (c) at the cost the mortgagor either to
re-transfer the mortgaged property to him or to such third person as he may direct,
or to execute and (where the mortgage has been effected by a registered
instrument) to have registered an acknowledgement in writing that any right in
derogation of his interest transferred to the mortgagee has been extinguished:
Provided that the right conferred by this section has not been
extinguished by act of the parties or by decree of a court.
The right conferred by this section is called a right to redeem and a
suit to enforce it is called a suit for redemption.
Nothing in this section shall be deemed to render invalid any provision
to the effect that, if the time fixed for payment of the principal money has
been allowed to pass or no such time has been fixed, the mortgagee shall be
entitled to reasonable notice before payment or tender of such money.
Redemption of portion of mortgaged property. -Nothing in this section shall entitle a person
interested in a share only of the mortgaged property to redeem his own share
only, on payment of a proportionate part of the amount remaining due on the
mortgage, except only where a mortgagee, or, if there are more mortgagees than
one, all such mortgagees, has or have acquired, in whole or in part, the share
of a mortgagor.
60A.
Obligation to transfer to third party
instead of re-transference to mortgagor. -
(1) Where a mortgagor is entitled to redemption, then, on the
fulfillment of any conditions of the fulfillment of which he would be entitled
to require a re-transfer, he may require the mortgagee, instead of re-transferring
the property, to assign the mortgage-debt and transfer the mortgaged property
to such third person as the mortgagor may direct; and the mortgagee shall be
bound to assign and transfer accordingly.
(2) The rights
conferred by this section belong to and may be enforced by the mortgagor or by
any encumberancer notwithstanding an intermediate encumbrance; but the
requisition of any encumbrance shall prevail over a requisition of the
mortgagor and, as between encumbrancers, the requisition of a prior
encumbrancer shall prevail over that of a subsequent encumbrancer.
(3) The
provisions of this section do rot apply in the case of a mortgagee who is or
has been in possession.
60B. Right to
inspection and production of documents.-A mortgagor, as long as his right of redemption
subsists, shall be entitled at all reasonable times, at his request and at his
own cost, and on payment of the mortgagee’s cost and expenses in this behalf,
to inspect and make copies or abstracts of, or extracts from, documents of
title relating to the mortgaged property which are in the custody or power of
the mortgagee.
61. Right to redeem separately or
simultaneously.-A mortgagor who has executed two or more mortgages in favour of the same
mortgagee shall, in the absence of a contract to the contrary, when the
principal money of any two or more of the mortgages has become due, be entitled
to redeem any one such mortgage separately, or any two or more of such
mortgages together.
62. Right of
usufructuary mortgagor to recover possession.-In the case of a
usufructuary mortgage, the mortgagor has a right to recover possession of the
property together with the mortgage-deed and all documents relating to the
mortgaged property which are in the possession or power of the mortgagee,-
(a) Where
the mortgagee is authorized to pay himself the mortgage-money from the rents
and profits of the property,-when such money is paid;
(b) Where
the mortgagee is authorised to pay himself from such rents and profits or any
part thereof a part only of the mortgage-money, when the term (if any)
prescribed for the payment of the mortgage-money has expried and the mortgagor
pays or tenders to the mortgagee the mortgage-money or the balance thereof or
deposits it in court hereinafter provided.
63. Accession
to mortgaged property. -Where mortgaged property in possession of the mortgagee has, during the
continuance of the mortgage, received any accession, the mortgagor, upon
redemption shall, in the absence of a contract to the contrary, be entitled as
against the mortgagee to such accession.
Accession acquired in virtue of transferred ownership.-Where such accession has been acquired at the expense of the mortgagee,
and is capable of separate possession or enjoyment without detriment to the
principal property, the mortgagor desiring to take the accession must pay to
the mortgagee the expense of acquiring it.
If such separate possession or enjoyment is not possible, the accession
must be delivered with the property; the mortgagor being liable, in the case of
an acquisition necessary to preserve the property from destruction, forfeiture
or sale, or made with his assent, to pay the property cost thereof, as an
addition to the principal money, with interest at the same rate as is payable
on the principal, or, where no such rate is fixed, at the rate of mile per cent
per annum.
In the case last mentioned the profits, if any, arising from the
accession shall be credited to the mortgagor.
Where the mortgage is usufructuary and the accession has been acquired
at the expense of the mortgagee, the profits, if any, arising from the
accession shall, in the absence of a contract to the contrary, be set off
against interest, if any, payable on the money so expended.
63A. Improvements to mortgaged property.-
(1) Where mortgaged property in possession of the mortgagee has,
during the continuance of the mortgage, been improved, the mortgagor, upon
redemption, shall, in the absence of a contract to the contrary, be entitled to
the improvement; and the mortgagor shall not, save only in cases provided for
in subsection (2), be liable to pay the cost thereof.
(2) Where
any such improvement was effected at the cost of the mortgagee and was
necessary to preserve the property from destruction or deterioration or was
necessary to prevent the security from becoming insufficient, or was made in
compliance with the lawful order of any public servant or public authority, the
mortgagor shall, in the absence of a contract to the contrary, be liable to pay
the proper cost thereof as an addition to the principal money with interest at
the same rate as is payable on the principal, or, where no such rate is fixed,
at the rate of nine per cent per annum, and the profits, if any, accruing by
reason of the improvement shall be credited to the mortgagor.
64. Renewal
of mortgaged lease.-Where mortgaged property is a lease and the mortgagee obtains a renewal
of the lease, the mortgagor, upon redemption, shall, in the absence of a
contract by him to the contrary, have the benefit of the new lease.
65. Implied
contracts by mortgagor.-In the absence of a contract to the contrary, the mortgagor shall be
deemed to contract with the mortgagee,-
(a) That
the interest which the mortgagor professes to transfer to the mortgagee
subsists, and that the mortgagor has power to transfer the same;
(b) That
the mortgagor will defend, or, if the mortgagee be in possession of the
mortgaged property, enable him to defend, the mortgagor’s tide thereto;
(c) That
the mortgagor will, so long as the mortgagee is not in possession of the
mortgaged property, pay all public charges accruing due in respect of the
property;
(d) And,
where the mortgaged property is a lease that the rent payable under the lease,
the conditions contained therein, and the contracts binding on the lessee have
been paid, performed and observed down to the commencement of the mortgage; and
that the mortgagor will, so long as the security exists and the mortgagee is
not in possession of the mortgaged property, pay the rent reserved by the
lease, or, if the lease be renewed, the renewed lease, perform the conditions
contained therein and observe the contracts binding on the lessee, and indemnify
the mortgagee against all the claims sustained by reason of the non-payment of
the said rent or the non-performance or non-observance of the said conditions
and contracts;
(e) And,
where the mortgage is a second or subsequent encumbrance on the property, that
the mortgagor will pay the interest from time to time accruing due on each
prior encumbrance as and when it becomes due, and will at the proper time
discharge the principal money due on such prior encumbrance.
The benefit of the contracts mentioned in this section shall be annexed
to and shall, go with the interest of the mortgagee as such, and may be
enforced by every person in whom that interest is for the whole or any part
thereof from time to time vested.
65A. Mortgagor’s power to lease. –
(1) Subject to the provision of sub-section (2), a mortgagor, while
lawfully in possession of the mortgaged property, shall have power to make
lease thereof which shall be binding on the mortgagee.
(2) (a) Every such lease shall be such as would be
made in the ordinary course of
management of the property concerned, and in accordance with any local law,
custom or usage,
(b) Every
such lease shall reserve the best rent that can reasonably be obtained, and no
premium shall be paid or promised and no rent shall be payable ill advance,
(c) No such
lease sail contain a conenant for renewal,
(d) Every
such lease shall take effect from a date not later than six months from the
date on which it is made,
(e) In the
case of a lease of buildings, whether leased with or without the land on which
they stand, the duration of the lease shall in no case exceed three years, and
the lease shall contain a conenant for payment of the rent and a condition of
re-entry on the rent not being paid with a time therein specified.
The provisions of sub-section (1) apply only if and as far as a contrary
intention is not expressed in the mortgage-deed; and the provisions of
sub-section (2) may be varied or extended by the mortgage-deed and, as so
varied and extended, shall, as far as may be, operate in like manner and with
all like incidents, effects and consequences, as if such variations or
extensions were contained in that sub-section.
66. Waste
by mortgagor in possession. -A mortgagor in possession of the mortgaged property is not liable to the
mortgagee for allowing the property to deteriorate; but he must not commit any
act which is destructive or permanently injurious thereto, if the security is
insufficient or will be rendered insufficient by such act.
Explanation.-A security is insufficient
within the meaning of this section unless the value of the mortgaged property
exceeds by one-third, or, if consisting of buildings, exceeds by one-half, the
amount for the time being due on the mortgage.
67. Right to
foreclosure or sale.-In the absence of a contract to the contrary, the mortgagee has, at any
time after the mortgage-money has become due to him, and before a decree has
been made for the redemption of the mortgaged property, or the mortgage-money
has been paid or deposited as hereinafter provided, a right to obtain from the
court a decree that the mortgagor shall be absolutely debarred of his right to
redeem the property, or a decree that the property be sold.
A suit to obtain a decree that a mortgagor shall be absolutely debarred
of his right to redeem the mortgaged property is called a suit for foreclosure.
Nothing in this section shall be deemed-
(a) To
authorize any mortgagee other than a mortgagee by conditional sale or a
mortgagee under an anomalous mortgage by the terms of which he is entitled to
foreclose, to institute a suit for foreclosure, or an usufructuary mortgagee as
such or a mortgagee by conditional sale as such to institute a suit for sale;
or
(b) To
authorise a mortgagor who holds the mortgagee’s rights as his trustee or legal
representative, and who may sue for a sale of the property, to institute a suit
for foreclosure; or
(c) To
authorise the mortgagee of a railway, canal, or other work in the maintenance
of which the public are interested, to institute a suit for foreclosure or
side; or
(d) To
authorise a person interested in part oily of the mortgage-money to institute a
suit relating only to a corresponding part of the mortgaged property, unless
the mortgagees have, with the consent of the mortgagor, severed their interests
under the mortgage.
67A. Mortgagee
when bound to bring one suit on several mortgages.-A mortgagee who holds two or
more mortgages executed by the same mortgagor in respect of each of which he
has a right to obtain the same kind of decree under Section 67, and who sues to
obtain such decree on any one of the mortgages, shall, in the absence of a
contract to the contrary, be bound to sue on all the mortgages in respect of
which the mortgage-money has become due.
68. Right to sue for mortgage-money. -
(1) The mortgagee has a right to sue for the
mortgage-money in the following cases and not others, namely:-
(a) Where
the mortgagor binds himself to repay the same;
(b) Where,
by any cause other than the wrongful act or default, of the mortgagor or
mortgagee, the mortgaged property is wholly or partially destroyed or the security
is rendered insufficient within the meaning of Section 66, and the mortgagee
has given the mortgagor a reasonable opportunity of providing further security
enough to tender the whole security sufficient, and the mortgagor has failed to
do so;
(c) Where
the mortgagee is deprived of the whole or part of his security by or in
consequence- of the wrongful act or default of the mortgagor;
(d) Where,
the mortgagee being entitled to possession of the mortgaged property, the
mortgagor fails to deliver the same to him, or to secure the possession thereof
to him without disturbance by fire mortgagor or any person claiming under a
title superior to that of the mortgagor:
Provided that, in the case referred to in clause (a), a transferee from
the mortgagor or from his legal representative shall not be liable to be Sued
for the mortgage-money.
(2) Where
a suit is brought under clause or
clause (b) of sub-section (1), the
court, may at its discretion, stay the suit and all proceedings therein,
notwithstanding any contract to the contrary, until the mortgagee has exhausted
all his available remedies against the mortgaged property or what remains of
it, unless the mortgagee abandons his security and, if necessary, re-transfers
the mortgaged property.
69 (1) Power
of sale when valid. -A mortgagee, or any person acting on his behalf, shall, subject to the
provisions of this section have power to sell or concur in selling the
mortgaged property or any part thereof, in default of payment of the
mortgage-money, without the intervention of the court, in the following cases
and in no others, namely: -
(a) Where
the mortgage is an English mortgage, and neither the mortgagor nor the
mortgagee is a Hindu, Muhammadan or Buddhist or a member of any other race,
sect, tribe or class from time to time specified in this behalf by the State
Government in the Official Gazette;
(b) Where
power of sale without a intervention of the court is expressly conferred on the
-mortgagee by the mortgage-deed and the mortgagee is the Government;
(c) Where
power of sale without the intervention of the court is expressly conferred on
the mortgagee by the mortgage-deed and the
mortgaged property or any part thereof was, on the date of the execution
of the mortgage-deed, state within the towns of Calcutta, Madras, Bombay, or in
any other town or area which the State
Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette. specify in this
behalf.
(2) No such
power shall be exercised unless and until,-
(a) Notice
in writing requiring payment of the principal money has been served on the
mortgagor, or on one of several mortgagors, and default has been made in
payment of the principal money, or of part thereof, for three months after such
service-, or
(b) Some
interest under the mortgage amounting at least to live hundred rupees is in
arrear and unpaid for three months after becoming due.
(3) When
a sale has been made in professed exercise of such a power, the title of’ the
purchaser shall not be impeachable on the ground that no case had arisen to authorise the sale, or that due notice
was not given, or that the power was otherwise improperly or irregularly
exercised; but any person demnified by an unauthorized or improper of irregular
exercise of the power shall have his remedy in damages against the person
exercising the power.
(4) The
money which is received by the mortgagee, arising from the sale, after
discharge of prior encumbrances, if any, to which the sale is not made subject,
or after payment into court under Section 57 of a sum to meet any prior
encumbrance, shall, in the absence of a contract to the contrary, be held by
him in trust to be applied by him, first, in payment of all costs, charges and
expenses properly incurred by him as incident to the sale or any attempted
sale; and, secondly, in discharge of the mortgage-money and costs and other
money, if any, due under the mortgage; and the residue of the money so received
shall be paid to the person entitled to the mortgaged property, or authorised
to give receipts for the proceeds of the sale thereof.
(5) Nothing
in this section or in Section 69A applies to powers conferred before the first
day of July, 1882.
69A.
Appointment of receiver.-
(1) A
mortgagee having the right to exercise a power of sale under Section 69 shall,
subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), be entitled to appoint, by
writing signed by him or on his behalf, a receiver of the income of the
mortgaged property or any part thereof.
(2) Any
person who has been named in the mortgage-deed and is willing and able to act
as receiver may be appointed by the mortgagee.
If no person has been so named, or if all persons named are unable or
unwilling to act, or are dead, the mortgagee may appoint any person to whose
appointment the mortgagor agrees; failing such agreement, the mortgagee shall
be entitled to apply to the court for the appointment of a receiver, and any
person appointed by the court shall be deemed to have been duly appointed by
the mortgagee.
A receiver may at any time be removed by writing signed by or on behalf
of the mortgagee and the mortgagor, or by the court on application made by
either party and on due cause shown.
A vacancy in the office of receiver may be filled in accordance with the
provisions of this subsection.
(3) A
receiver appointed under the powers conferred by this section shall be deemed
to be the agent of the mortgagor; and the mortgagor shall be solely responsible
for the receiver’s act or defaults, unless the mortgage-deed otherwise provides
or unless such acts or defaults are due to the improper intervention of the
mortgagee.
(4) The
receiver shall have power to demand and recover all the income of which he is
appointed receiver, by suit, execution or otherwise, in the name either of the
mortgagor or of the mortgagee to the full extent of the interest which the
mortgagor could dispose of, and to give valid receipts accordingly for the
same, and to exercise any powers which may have been delegated to him by the
mortgagee, in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(5) A
person paying money to the receiver shall not be concerned to inquire if the
appointment of the receiver was valid or not.
(6) The
receiver shall be entitled to retain out of any money received by him, for his
remuneration, and in satisfaction of all costs, charges and expenses incurred
by him as receiver, a commission at such rate not exceeding five per cent, on
the gross amount of all money received as is specified in his appointment, and,
if no rate is so specified, then at the rate of five per cent, on that gross
amount. or at such other rate as the court thinks fit to allow, on application
made by him for that purpose.
(7) The
receiver shall, if so directed in writing by the mortgagee, insure to the
extent, if any, to which the mortgagee might have insured, and keep insured
against loss or damage by fire, out of the money received by him, the mortgaged
property or any part thereof being of an insurable nature.
(8) Subject
to the provisions of this Act as to the application of insurance money, the
receiver shall apply all money received by him as follows, namely
(i) In
discharge of all rents, taxes, land revenue, rates and outgoings whatever
affecting the mortgaged, property;
(ii) In
keeping down all annual sums or other payments, and the interest on all
principal sums, having priority to the mortgage in right whereof he is
receiver;
(iii) In
payment of his commission, and of the premiums on fire, life or other
insurances, if any, properly payable under the mortgage-deed or under this Act,
and the cost of executing necessary or proper repairs directed in writing by
the mortgagee;
(iv) In
payment of the interest falling due under the mortgage;
(v) In or towards
discharge of the principal money, if so directed in writing by the mortgagee,
And shall pay the residue, of any of the money received by him to the
person who, but for the possession of the receiver, would have been entitled to
receive the income of which he is appointed receiver, or who is otherwise
entitled to the mortgaged property.
(9) The
provisions of sub-section (1) apply only if and as far as a contrary intention
is not expressed in the mortgage-deed; and the provisions of sub-section (3) to
(8) inclusive may be varied or extended by the mortgage-deed; and also varied
or extended, shall, as far as may be, operate in like manner and with all the
like incidents, effects and consequences, as if such variations or extensions
were contained in the said sub-sections.
(10) Application
may be made, without the institution of a suit, to the court for its opinion,
advice or direction on any present question respecting the management or
administration of the mortgaged property, other than questions of difficulty or
importance not proper in the opinion of the court for summary disposal. A copy of such application shall be served
upon, and the hearing thereof may be attended by, such of the persons
interested in the application as the court may think fit.
The costs of every application under this sub-section shall be in the
discretion of the court.
(11) In this
section “the Court” means the court which would have jurisdiction in a suit to
enforce the mortgage.
70. Accession to mortgaged property. -If, after the date of a mortgage, any accession
is made to the mortgaged property, the mortgagee, in the absence of a contract
to the contrary, shall, for the purposes of the security, be entitled to such
accession.
Illustrations
(a) A mortgages
to B a certain field bordering on a river.
The field is increase by alluvion. For the purposes of his security, B
is entitled to the increase.
(b) A
mortgages a certain plot of building land to B and afterwards erects a house on
the plot. For the purposes of his security B is entitled to the house as well
as the plot.
71. Renewal
of mortgaged lease. -When the mortgaged property is a lease and the mortgagor obtains a
renewal of the lease, the mortgagee, in the absence of a contract to the contrary,
shall, for the purposes of the security, be entitled to the new lease.
72. Right of mortgagee in possession. -A mortgagee may spend such money as is
necessary-
(b) For the
preservation of the mortgaged property from destruction, forfeiture or sale;
(c) For
supporting the mortgagor’s title to the property;
(d) For
making his own title thereto good against the mortgagor; and
(e) When
the mortgaged property is a renewable lease-hold, for the renewal of the lease,
And may, in the absence of a contract to the contrary, add such money to
the principal money, at the rate of interest payable on the principal, and,
where no such rate is fixed, at the rate of nine percent. per annum:
Provided that the expenditure of
money by the mortgagee under clause (b) or clause (c) shall not be deemed to be
necessary unless the mortgagor has been called upon and has failed to take
proper and timely steps to preserve the property or to support the title.
Where the property is by its
nature insurable, the mortgagee may also, in the absence of a contract to the
contrary, insure and keep insured against loss or damage by fire the whole or
any part of such property, and the premiums paid for any such insurance shall
be added to the principal money with interest at the same rate as is payable
on, the principal money or, where no such rate is fixed, at the rate of nine
per cent. per annum. But the amount of
such insurance shall not exceed the amount specified in this behalf in the
mortgage-deed or (if no such amount is therein specified) two-thirds of the
amount that would be required in case of total destruction to reinstate the
property insured.
Nothing in this section shall be deemed to authorise the mortgagee to insure
when an insurance of the property is kept up by or on behalf of the mortgagor
to the amount in which the mortgagee is hereby authorised to insure.
73. Right to proceeds of revenue sale or
compensation on acquisition. -
(1)
Where the mortgaged property
or any part thereof or any interest therein is sold owing to failure to pay
arrears or revenue or other charges of a public nature or rent due, in respect
of such property, and such failure did not arise from any default of the
mortgagee, the mortgagee shall be entitled to claim payment of the
mortgage-money, in whole or in part, out of any surplus of the sale-proceeds
remaining after payment of the arrears and of all charges and deductions
directed by law.
(2) Where
the mortgaged property or any part thereof or any interest therein is acquired
under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (1 of 1894); or any other enactment for
the time being in force providing for the compulsory acquisition of immoveable
property, the mortgagee shall be entitled to claim payment of the
mortgage-money, in whole or in part, out of the amount due to the mortgagor as
compensation.
(3) Such
claims shall prevail against all other claims except those of prior
encumbrancers, and may be enforced notwithstanding that the principal money on
the mortgage has not become due.
74. Right of
subsequent mortgagee to pay off prior mortgagee. -[Rep. by the Transfer of Property (Amendment)
Act, 1929 (20 o f 1929)].
75. Right of mesne mortgagee against prior and subsequent
mortgagees. -[ R e p. by the Transfer of Property (Amendment) Act, 1929 (20 of 1 92
9)
76. Liabilities of-mortgagee in possession.-When, during the continuance
of the mortgage, the mortgagee takes possession of the mortgaged property,-
(a) He must
manage the property as a person of ordinary prudence would manage it if it were
his own;
(b) He must
try his best endeavour to collect the rents and profits thereof,
(c) He
must, in the absence of a contract to the contrary, out of the income of’ the property,
pay the Government revenue, all other charges of a public nature and all rent
accruing due in respect thereof during such possession, and any arrears of rent
in default of payment of which the property may be summarily sold;
(d) He must
in the absence of a contract to the contrary, make such necessary repairs of
the property as he can pay for out of the rents and profits thereof after
deducting from such rents and profits the payments mentioned in clause (c) and
the interest on the principal money;
(e) He must
not commit any act which is destructive or permanently injurious to the
property;
(f) Where
he has insured the whole or any part of the property against loss or damage by
fire, he must, in case of such loss or damage, apply any money which he
actually receives under the policy or so much thereof as may be necessary, in
reinstating the property, or, if the mortgagor so directs, in reduction or
discharge of the mortgage-money;
(g) He must
keep clear, full and accurate accounts of all sums received and spent by him as
mortgagee, and, at any time during the continuance of the mortgage, given the
mortgagor, at his request and cost, true copies of such accounts and of the
vouchers by which they are supported;
(h) His
receipts from the mortgaged property, or, where such property is personally
occupied by him, a fair occupation-rent in respect thereof, shall, after
deducting the expenses properly incurred for the management of the property and
the collection of rents and profits and the other expenses mentioned in clauses
(c) and (d), and interest thereon, be debited against him in reduction of the
amount (if any) from time to time due to him on account of interest and, so far
as such receipts exceed any interest due, in reduction or discharge of the
mortgage-money; the surplus, if any, shall be paid to the mortgagor;
(i) When
the mortgagor tenders, or deposits in the manner hereinafter provided, the
amount for the time being due on the mortgage, the mortgagee must,
notwithstanding the provisions in the other clauses of this section, account
for his receipts from the mortgaged property from the date of the tender or
from the earliest time when he could take such amount out of court, as the case
may be and shall not be entitled to deduct any amount therefrom on account of
any expenses incurred after such date or time in connection with the mortgaged
property.
Loss occasioned by his default. -If the mortgagee fails to perform any
of the duties imposed upon him by this section, he may, when accounts are taken
in pursuance of a decree made under this Chapter, be debited with the loss, if
any, occasioned by such failure.
77. Receipts
in lieu of interest. -Nothing in Section 76, clauses (b), (d), (g) and (h), applies to cases
where there is a contract between the mortgagee and the mortgagor that the
receipts from the mortgaged property shall, so long as the mortgagee is in
possession of the property, be taken in lieu of interest on the principal
money, or in lieu of such interest and defined portions of the principal.
Priority
78. Postponement of prior mortgagee.-Where, through the fraud,
mis representation or gross neglect of prior mortgagee, another person has been
induced to advance money on the security of the mortgaged property, the prior
mortgagee shall be postponed to the subsequent mortgagee.
79. Mortgage to secure uncertain amount when
maximum is expressed.-If a mortgage made to secure future advances, the performance of an
engagement or the balance of a running account, expresses the maximum to be
secured thereby, a subsequent mortgage of the same property shall, if made with
notice of the prior mortgage, be postponed to the prior mortgage in respect of
all advances or debits not exceeding the maximum, though made or allowed with
notice of the subsequent mortgage.
Illustration
A mortgages Sultanpur to his
bankers, B & Co, to secure the balance of his account with them to the
extent of Rs. 10,000. A then mortgages
Sultanpur to C, to secure Rs. IO,O(X), C
having notice of the mortgage to B & Co, and C gives notice to B & Co.
of the second mortgage. At the date of
the second mortgage, the balance due to B & Co. does not exceed Rs. 5,000. B & Co. subsequently advance to A sums
making the balance of the account against him exceeds the sum of Rs.
10,000. B & CO. is entitled, to the
extent of Rs. 10,000, to priority over C.
80. Tacking
abolished.-[Rep.
by the Transfer of Property (Amendment) Act, 1929 (20 of 1929)].
Marshalling and Contribution
81. Marshalling
securities. -If the owner of two or more properties mortgages them to one person and
then mortgages one or more of the properties to another person, the subsequent
mortgagee is, in the absence of a contract to the contrary, entitled to have
the prior mortgage-debt satisfied out of the property or properties not
mortgaged to him, so far as the same will extend, but not so as to prejudice
the rights of the prior mortgagee or of any other person who has for
consideration acquired an interest in any of the properties.
82. Contribution
to mortgage-debt. -Where property subject to a mortgage belongs to two or more persons
having distinct and separate rights of ownership therein, the different shares
in or parts of such property owner by such persons are, in the absence of a
contract to the contrary, liable to contribute rateably to the debt secured by
the mortgage, and, for the purpose of determining the rate at which each such
share or part shall contribute, the value thereof shall be deemed to be its value
at the date of the mortgage after deduction of the amount of any other mortgage
or charge to which it may have been subject on that date.
Where, of two properties belonging to the same owner, one is mortgaged
to secure one debt and then both are mortgaged to secure another debt, and the
former debt is paid out of the former property, each property is, in the
absence of a contract to the contrary, liable to contribute rateably to the
latter debt after deducting the amount of the former debt from the value of the
property out of which it has been paid.
Nothing in this section applies to a property liable under Section 81 to
the claim of the subsequent mortgagee.
Deposit in Court
83. Power to
deposit in Court money due on mortgage.-At any time after the principal money payable in
respect of any mortgage has become due and before a suit for redemption of the
mortgaged property is barred, the mortgagor, or any other person entitled to
institute such suit, may deposit, in any court in which he might have
instituted such suit, to the account of the mortgagee, the amount remaining due
on the mortgage.
Right to money deposited by mortgagor.-The
court shall thereupon cause written notice of the deposit to be served on the
mortgagee, and the mortgagee may, on presenting a petition (verified in manner
prescribed by law for the verification of plaints) stating the amount then due
on the mortgage, and his willingness to accept the money so deposited in full
discharge of such amount, and on depositing in the same court the mortgage-deed
and all documents in his possession or power relating to the mortgaged
property, apply for and receive the money, and the mortgage-deed, and all such
other documents so deposited shall be delivered to the mortgagor or such other
person as aforesaid.
Where the mortgagee is in possession of the mortgaged property, the
court shall, before paying to him the amount so deposited, direct him to
deliver possession thereof to the mortgagor and at the cost of the mortgagor either
to re-transfer the mortgaged property to the mortgagor or to such third person
as the mortgagor may direct or to execute and (where the mortgage has been
effected by a registered instrument) have registered an acknowledgement in
writing that any right in derogation of the mortgagor’s interest transferred to
the mortgagee has been extinguished.
84. Cessation
of interest-When the mortgagor or such other person as aforesaid had tendered or
deposited in court under Section 83 the amount remaining due on the mortgage,
interest on the principal money shall cease from the date of the tender or in
the case of a deposit, where no previous tender of such amount has been made as
soon as the mortgagor or such other person as aforesaid has done all that has
to be done by him to enable the mortgagee to take such amount out of court, and
the notice required by Section 83 has been served on the mortgagee:
Provided that, where the mortgagor has deposited such amount without
having made a previous tender thereof and has subsequently withdrawn the same
or any part thereof, interest on the principal money shall be payable from the
date of such withdrawal.
Nothing in this section or in Section 83 shall be deemed to deprive the
mortgagee of his right to interest when there exists a contract that he shall
be entitled to reasonable notice before payment or tender of the mortgage-money
and such notice has not been given before the making of the tender or deposit,
as the case may be.
Suits for Foreclosure, Sale or Redemption
85. Parties
to suits for foreclosure, sale and redemption.-[Rep. by the Code of Civil
Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908)].
Foreclosure and Sale
86 to 90.-[Rep. by the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 o 1908)].
Redemption
91. Persons
who may sue for redemption.-Besides the mortgagor, any of the following persons may redeem, or
institute a suit for redemption of, the mortgaged property, namely:-
(a) Any
person (other than the mortgagee of the interest sought to re-redeemed) who has
any interest in, or charge upon, the property mortgaged or in or upon the right
to redeem the same;
(b) Any
surety for the payment of the mortgage-debt or any part thereof; or
(c) Any
creditor of the mortgagor who has in a suit for the administration of his estate
obtained a decree for sale of the mortgaged property.
92. Subrogation.-Any of the persons referred
to in Section 91 (other than the mortgagor) and any co-mortgagor shall, on
redeeming property subject to the mortgage, have, so far as regards redemption,
foreclosure or sale of such property, the same rights as the mortgagee whose
mortgage he redeems may have against the mortgagor or any other mortgagee.
The right conferred by this section is called the right of subrogation,
and a person acquiring the same is said to be subrogated to the rights of the
mortgagee whose mortgage the redeems.
A person who has advanced to a mortgagor money with which the mortgage
has been redeemed shall be subrogated to the rights of the mortgagee whose
mortgage has been redeemed, if the mortgagor has by a registered instrument
agreed that such persons shall be-so subrogated.
Nothing in this section shall be deemed to confer a right to subrogation
on any person unless the mortgage in respect of which the right is claimed has
been redeemed in full.
93. Prohibition
of tacking. -No mortgagee paying off a prior mortgage, whether with or without notice
of an intermediate mortgage, shall thereby acquire any priority in respect of
his original security; and, except in the case provided for by Section 79, no
mortgagee making a subsequent advance to the mortgagor, whether with or without
notice of an intermediate mortgage, shall thereby acquire any priority in
respect of his security for such subsequent advance.
94. Rights
of mesne mortgagee.-Where a property is mortgaged for successive debts to successive
mortgagees, a mesne mortgagee has the same rights against mortgagees posterior
to himself as he has against the mortgagor.
95. Right of
redeeming co-mortgagor to expenses.-Where one of several mortgagors redeems the mortgaged
property, he shall, in enforcing his right of subrogation under Section 92
against his co-mortgagors, be entitled to add to the mortgage money recoverable
from them such proportion of the expenses properly incurred in such redemption
as is attributable to their share in the property.
96. Mortgage by deposit of
title-deeds.-The provisions hereinbefore contained which apply to a simple mortgage
shall, so far as may be, apply to a mortgage by deposit of title-deeds.)
97.
Application of proceeds.-[Rep. by the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908)].
Anomalous Mortgage
98. Rights
and liabilities of parties to anomalous mortgage.-In the case of an anomalous mortgage the rights
and liabilities of the parties shall be determined by their contract as
evidenced in the mortgage-deed, and, so far as such contract does not extend,
by local usage.
Attachment of Mortgaged Property
99. Attachment
of mortgaged property.-[Rep. by the Code of Civil Procedure 1908 (5 of 1908),].
Charges
100. Charges. -Where immoveable property of one person is by
act of parties or operation of law made security for the payment of money to
another, and the transaction does not amount to a mortgage, the latter person
is said to have a charge on the property; and all the provisions hereinbefore
contained which apply to a simple mortgage shall, so far as may be, apply to
such charge.
Nothing in this section applies to the charge of a trustee on the
trust-property for expenses properly incurred in the execution of his trust,
and, save as otherwise expressly provided by any law for the time being in
force, no charge shall be enforced against any property in the hands of a
person to whom such property has been transferred for consideration and without
notice of the charge.
101. No
merger in case of subsequent encumbrance. –Any mortgagee of, or person having a charge upon, immoveable property,
or any transferee from such mortgagee or charge-holder, may purchase or
otherwise acquire the rights in the property of the mortgagor or owner, as the
case may be, without thereby causing the mortgage or charge to be merged as
between himself and any subsequent mortgagee of, or person having a subsequent
charge upon, the same property; and no such subsequent mortgagee of
charge-holder shall be entitled to foreclose or sell such property without
redeeming the prior mortgage or charge, or otherwise than subject thereto.
Notice and Tender
102. Service
or tender on or to agent. -Where the person on or to whom any notice or tender is to be served or
made under this Chapter does not reside in the district in which the mortgaged
property or some part thereof is situate, service or tender on or to an agent
holding a general power-of-attorney from such person or otherwise duly
authorised to accept such service or tender shall be deemed sufficient.
Where no person or agent on whom such notice should be served can be
found or is known to the person required to serve the notice, the latter person
may apply to any court in which a suit might be brought for redemption of the
mortgaged property, and such court shall direct in what manner such notice
shall be served, and any notice served in compliance with such direction shall
be deemed sufficient:
Provided that, in the case of a notice required by Section 83, in the
case of a deposit, the application shall be made to the court in which the
deposit has been made.
Where no person or agent to whom such tender should be made can he found
or is known to the person desiring to make the tender, the latter person may
deposit in any court in which a suit might be brought for redemption of the
mortgaged property the amount sought to be tendered, and such deposit shall
have the effect of a tender of such amount.
103. Notice,
etc., to or by person incompetent to contract. -Where, under the provisions of this Chapter, a
notice is to be served on or by, or a tender or deposit made or accepted or
taken out of court by, any person incompetent to contract, such notice may be
served on or by or tender or deposit made, accepted or taken, by the legal
curator s)f the property of such person; but where there is no such curator,
and it is requisite or desirable in the interest of such person that a notice should
be served or a tender or deposit made under the provisions of this Chapter,
application may be made to any court in which a suit might be brought for the
redemption of the mortgage to appoint a guardian ad item for the purpose of
serving or receiving service of such notice, or making or accepting such
tender, or making or taking out of court such deposit, and for the performance
of all consequential acts which could or ought to be done by such person if he
were competent to contract; and the provisions of order XXXII in the First
Schedule to the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) shall, so far as may
be, apply to such application and to parties thereto and to the guardian
appointed thereunder.
104. Power to
maker rules. -The High Court may, from time to time, make rules consistent with this
Act for carrying out, in itself and in the Courts of Civil Judicature subject
to its superintendence, the provisions contained in this Chapter.
CHAPTER V
OF LEASES OF IMMOVEABLE PROPERTY
105. Lease
defined.-A lease of immoveable property is a transfer of a right to enjoy such
property, made for a certain time, express or implied, or in perpetuity, it)
consideration of a price paid or promised, or of money, a share of crops,
service or any other thing of value, to be rendered periodically or on
specified occasions to the transferor by the transferee, who accepts the
transfer on such terms.
Lessor, lessee, premium and rent defined.-The transferor is called the lessor, the
transferee is called the lessee, the price is called the premium, mid the
money, share, service or other thing to be so rendered is called the rent.
106. Duration
of certain leases in absence of written contract or local usage. - In
the absence of a contract or local law or usage to the contrary, a lease of
immoveable property for agricultural or manufacturing purposes shall be deemed
to be a lease from year to year, terminable, on the part of either lessor or
lessee, by six months notice expiring with the end of a year of the tenancy; and
a lease of immoveable property for any other purpose shall be deemed to be a
lease from month to month, terminable, on the part of either lessor or lessee,
by fifteen days’ notice expiring with the end of a month of the tenancy.
Every notice under this section must be in writing, signed by or on
behalf of the person giving it, and either be sent by post to the party who is
intended to be bound by it or be tendered or delivered personally to such party
or to one of his family or servants at his residence, or (if such tender or
delivery is not practicable) affixed to a conspicuous part of the property.
107. Leases
how made. -A lease of immoveable property from year to year, or for any term
exceeding one year or reserving a yearly rent, can be made only by a registered
instrument.
All other leases of immoveable property may be made either by a
registered instrument or by oral agreement accompanied by delivery of
possession.
Where a lease of immoveable property is made by a registered instrument,
such instrument or, where there are more instruments than one, each such
instrument shall be executed by both the lessor and the lessee:
Provided that the State Government may from time to time, by notification
in the Official Gazette, direct that leases of immoveable property, other than
leases from year to year, or for any term exceeding one year, or reserving a
yearly rent, or any class of such leases, may be made by unregistered
instrument or by oral agreement without delivery of possession.
108. Rights
and liabilities of lessor and lessee.-In the absence of a contract or local usage to the
contrary, the lessor and the lessee of immoveable property, as against one
another, respectively, possess the rights and are subject to the liabilities
mentioned in the rules next following, or such of them as are applicable to the
property leased:-
(A) Rights and Liabilities of the Lessor
(a) The lessor
is bound to disclose to the lessee any material defect in the property with
reference to its intended use, of which the former is and the latter is no
aware, and which the latter could not with ordinary care discover:
(b) The
lessor is bound on the lessee’s request to put him in possession of the
property:
(c) The
lessor shall be deemed to contract with the lessee that, if the latter pay the
rent reserved by the lease and performs the contracts binding on the lessee, he
may hold the property during the time limited by the lease without
interruption.
The benefit of such contract shall be annexed to and go with the
lessee’s interest a such, and may be enforced by every person in whom that
interest is for the whole any part thereof from time to time vested.
(B) Rights and Liabilities of the Lessee
(d) If
during the continuance of the lease any accession is made to the property such
accession (subject to the law relating to alluvion for the time being in force)
shall be deemed to be comprised in the lease:
(e) If by
fire, tempest or flood, or violence of an army or of a mob, or other
irresistible force, any material part of the property be wholly destroyed o
rendered substantially and permanently unfit for the purposes for which it was
let, the lease shall, at the option of the lessee, be void:
Provided that, if the inquiry be occasioned by the wrongful act or
default of the lessee, he shall be entitled to avail himself of the benefit of
this provision:
(f) If the
lessor neglects to make, within a reasonable time after notice, any repair
which he is bound to make to the property, the lessee may make the same
himself, and deduct the expense of such repairs with interest from the rent, o
otherwise recover it from the lessor:
(g) If the
lessor neglects to make any payment which he is bound to make, a which, if not
made by him, is recoverable from the lessee or against the property the lessee
may make such payment himself, and deduct it with interest fro the rent, or
otherwise recover it from the lessor:
(h) The
lessee may even after the determination of the lease remove, at any time whilst
he is in possession of the property leased but not afterwards all thing which
he has attached to the earth; provided he leaves the property in the stat in
which he received it:
(i) When a
lease of uncertain duration determines by any means except the fault of the
lessee, he or his legal representative is entitled to all the crops planted or
sown by the lessee and growing upon the property when the lease determine and
to free ingress and egress to gather and carry them:
(j) The
lessee may transfer absolutely or by way of mortgage or sublease the whole or
any part of his interest in the property, and any transferee of such interest
or part may again transfer it. The
lessee shall not, by reason only o such transfer, cease to be subject to any of
the liabilities attaching to the lease Nothing in this clause shall be deemed
to authorise a tenant having an untransferable right of occupancy, the farmer
of an estate in respect of which default has been made in paying revenue, or
the lessee of an estate under the management of a Court of Wards, to assign his
interest as such tenant, farmer or lessee:
(k) The
lessee is bound to disclose to the lessor any fact as to the nature or extent
of the interest which the lessee is about to take of which the lessee is, and
the lessor is not, aware, and which materially increases the value of such
interest:
(1) The
lessee is bound to pay or tender, at the proper time and place, the premium or
rent to the lessor or his agent in this behalf:
(m) The
lessee is bound to keep, and on the termination of the lease to restore, the
property in as good condition as it was in at the time when he was put in
possession, subject only to the changes caused by reasonable wear and tear or
irresistible force, and to allow the lessor and his agents, at all reasonable
times during the term, to enter upon the property and inspect the condition
thereof and give or leave notice, of any defect in such condition; and, when
such defect has been caused by any act or default on the part of the lessee,
his servants or agents, he is bound to make it good within three months after
such notice has been given or left:
(n) If the
lessee becomes aware of any proceeding to recover the property or any part
thereof, or of any encroachment made upon, or any interference with, the
lessor’s rights concerning such property, he is bound to give, with reasonable
diligence, notice thereof to the lessor:
(o) The
lessee may use the property and its products (if any) as a person of ordinary
prudence would use them if they were his own; but he must not use, or permit
another to sue, the property for a purpose other than that for which it was
leased, or fell or sell timber, pull down or damage buildings belonging to the
lessor, or work mines or quarries not open when the lease was granted, or
commit any other act which is destructive or permanently injurious thereto:
(p) He must
not, without the lessor’s consent, erect on the property any permanent
structure, except for agricultural purposes:
(q) On the
determination of the lease, the lessee is bound to put the lessor into
possession of the property.
109. Rights
of lessor’s transferee. -If the lessor transfers the property leased, or any part thereof, or any
part of his interest therein, the transferee, in the absence of a contract to
the contrary, shall possess all the rights, and, if the lessee so elects, be
subject to all the liabilities of the lessor as to the property or part
transferred so long as he is the owner of it; but the lessor shall not, by
reason only of such transfer cease to be subject to any of the liabilities
imposed upon him by the lease, unless the lessee elects to treat the transferee
as the person liable to him:
Provided that the transferee is not entitled to arrears of rent due
before the transfer, and that, if the lessee, not having reason to believe that
such transfer has been made, pays rent to the lessor, the lessee shall not be
liable to pay such rent over again to the transferee.
The lessor, the transferee and the lessee may determine what proportion
of-the premium or rent reserved by the lease is payable in respect of the part
so transferred, and, in case they disagree, such determination may be made by
any court having jurisdiction to entertain a suit for the possession of the
property eased.
110. Exclusion
of day on which term commences.-Where the time limited by a lease of immoveable property is expressed as
commencing from a particular day, in computing that time such day shall be
excluded. Where no day of commencement is named, the time so limited begins
from the making of the lease.
Duration of lease for a year. -Where the time so limited is a year or a number of years, in the absence
of an express agreement to the contrary, the lease shall last during the whole
anniversary of the day from which such time commences.
Option to determine lease. -Where the time so limited is expressed to be terminable before its
expiration, and the lease omits to mention at whose option it is so terminable,
the lessee, and not the lessor, shall have such option.
111. Determination
of lease.-A lease of immoveable property determines.-
(a) By
efflux of the time limited thereby:
(b) Where
such time is limited conditionally on the happening of some event-by the
happening of such event:
(c) Where
the interest of the lessor in the property terminates on, or his power to
dispose of the same extends only to, the happening of any event-by the
happening of such event:
(d) In case
the interests of the lessee and the lessor in the whole of the property become
vested at the same time in one person in the same right:
(e) By
express surrender; that is to say, in case the lessee yields up his interest
under the lease to the lessor, by mutual agreement between them:
(f) By
implied surrender:
(g) By
forfeiture; that is to say, (1) in case the lessee breaks an express condition which
provides that, on breach thereof, the lessor may re-enter; or (2) in case the
lessee renounces his character as such by setting up a title in a third person
or by claiming title in himself; or (3) the lessee is adjudicated an insolvent
and the lease provides that the lessor may reenter on the happening of such
event; and in any of these cases the lessor or his transferee gives notice in
writing to the lessee of his intention to determine the lease:
On the expiration of a notice to determine the lease, or to quit, or of
intention to quit, the property leased, duly given by one party to the other.
112. Waiver of
forfeiture. -A forfeiture under Section 111, clause (g) is waived by acceptance of
rent which has become due since the forfeiture, or by distress for such rent,
or by any other act on the part of the lessor showing in intention to treat the
lease as subsisting:
Provided that the lessor is aware that the forfeiture has been incurred:
Provided also that, where rent is accepted after the institution of a
suit to eject the lessee on the ground of forfeiture, such acceptance is not a
waiver.
113. Waiver of
notice to quit.-A notice given under Section 111, clause (h), is waived, with the
express or implied consent of the person to whom it is given, by any act on the
part of the person giving it showing an intention to treat the lease as
subsisting.
Illustrations
(a) A, the lessor, gives B,
the lessee, notice to quit the property leased. The notice expenses. B tenders and A accepts, rent which has
become due in respect of the property since the expiration of the notice. The notice is wavied.
(b) A, the
lessor, gives B, the lessee; notice to
quit the property leased. The notice expires, and B remains in possession. A gives to B as lessee a second notice to
quit. The first notice is waived.
114. Relief
against forfeiture for non-payment of rent.-Where a lease of immoveable
property has determined by forfeiture for nonpayment of rent, and the lessor sues
to eject the lessee, if, at the hearing of the suit, the lessee pays or tenders
to the lessor the rent in arrear, together with interest thereon and his hill
costs of the suit, or gives such security as the court thinks sufficient for
making such payment within fifteen days, the court may, in lieu of making a
decree for ejectment, pass an order relieving the lessee against the
forfeiture; and thereupon the lessee shall hold the property leased as if the
forfeiture had not occurred.
114A. Relief
against forfeiture in certain other cases.-Where a lease of immoveable
property has determined by forfeiture for a breach of an express condition
which provides that on breach thereof the lessor may re-enter, no suit for
ejectment shall lie unless and until the lessor has served on the lessee a
notice in writing-
(a) Specifying
the particular breach complained of; and
(b) If the
breach is capable of remedy, requiring the lessee to remedy the breach,
And the lessee fails, within a reasonable time from the date of the
service of the notice, to remedy the breach, if it is capable of remedy.
Nothing in this section shall apply to an express condition against the
assigning, under-letting, parting with the possession, or disposing, of the
property leased, or to an express condition relating to forfeiture in case of
nonpayment of rent.
115. Effect
of surrender and forfeiture on under-leases.-The surrender,
express or implied, of a lease of immoveable property does not prejudice an
underlease of the property or any part thereof previously granted by the
lessee, on terms and conditions substantially the same (except as regards the
amount of rent) as those of the original lease; but, unless the surrender is
made for the purpose of obtaining a new lease, the rent payable by, and the
contracts bending on, the under-lessee shall be respectively payable to and
enforceable by the lessor.
The forfeiture of such a lease annuls all such under-leases, except
where such forfeiture has been procured by the lessor in fraud of the under-lessees,
or relief against the forfeiture is granted under Section 114.
116. Effect
of holding over.-If a lessee or under-lessee of property remains in possession thereof
after the determination of the lease granted to the lessee, and the lessor or
his legal representative accepts rent from the lessee or under-lessee, or
otherwise assents to his continuing in possession, the lease is, in the absence
of an agreement to the contrary, renewed from year to year, or from month to
month, according to the purpose for which the property is leased, as specified
in Section 106.
Illustrations
(a) A
lets a house to B for five years. B
underlets the house to C at a monthly rent of Rs. 100. The five years expire,
but C continues in possession of the house mid pays the rent to A. C’s
lease is renewed from month to month.
(b) A lets
a farm to B for the life of C. C thes, but B continues in possession with A’s
assents B’s lease is renewed from year to year.
117. Exemption
of leases for agricultural purposes.-None of the provisions of this Chapter apply to leases
for agricultural purposes, except in so far as the State Government may by
notification published in the official
Gazette declare all or any of such provisions to be so applicable in the case
of all or any of such leases together with, or subject to, those of the local
law, if any, for the time being in force.
Such notification shall not take effect until the expiry of six months
from the date of its publication.
CHAPTER VI
OF EXCHANGES
118. “Exchange”
defined.-when two persons mutually transfer the ownership of one thing for the
ownership of another, neither thing or both things being money only, the
transaction is called an “exchange”.
A transfer of property in completion of an exchange can be made only in
manner provided for the transfer of
such property by sale.
119. Right of
party deprived of thing received in exchange. -If any party to an exchange or any person
claiming through or under such party is by reason of any defect in the title of
the other party deprived of the thing or any part of the thing received by him
in exchange, then, unless a contrary intention appears from the terms of the
exchange, such other party is liable to him or any person claiming through or
under him for loss caused thereby, or at the option of the person so deprived,
for the return of the thing transferred, if still in the possession of such
other party or his legal representative or a transferee from him without
consideration.
120. Rights
and liabilitied of parties. -Save as otherwise provided in this Chapter, each party has the rights
and is subject to the liabilities of a seller as to that which he gives, and
has the rights and is subject to the liabilities of a buyer as to that which he
takes.
121. Exchange of money. -On an exchange of money, each party thereby
warrants the genuineness of the money given by him.
CHAPTER VII
OF GIFTS
122. “Gift”
defined. -”Gift” is the transfer of certain existing moveable or immoveable
property made voluntarily and without consideration, by one person, called the
donor, to another, called the donee, and accepted by or on behalf of the donee.
Acceptance when to be made. -Such acceptance must be made
during the lifetime of the donor and while he is still capable of giving.
If the donee thes before acceptance, the gift is void.
123. Transfer
how effected.-For the purpose of making a gift of immoveable property, the transfer
must be effected by a registered instrument signed by or on behalf of the
donor, and attested by at least two witnesses.
For making a gift of moveable property, the transfer may be effected
either by a registered instrument signed as aforesaid or by delivery.
Such
delivery may be made in the same way as goods sold may be delivered.
124. Gift of existing and future property. -A gift comprising both existing and future
property is void as to the latter.
125. Gift to
several of whom one does not accept-A gift of a thing to two or more done, of whom one does not accept it,
is void as to the interest which he would have taken had he accepted.
126. When
gift may be suspended or revoked. -The donor and donee may agree that on the happening of any specified
event which does not depend on the will
of the donor a gift shall be suspended or revoked; but a gift which the parties
agree shall be revocable wholly or in part, at the mere will of the donor, is
void wholly or in part, as the case may be..
A gift may also be revoked in any of the cases (save want or failure of
consideration) in which, if it were a contract, it might be rescinded.
Save as aforesaid, a gift cannot be revoked.
Nothing contained in this
section shall be deemed to affect the rights of transferees for consideration
without notice.
Illustrations
(a) A
gives a field to B, reserving to himself, with B’s assent, the right to take
back the field in case B and his descendants die before A. B does without
descendants in A’s lifetime. A may take
back the field.
(b) A gives
a lakh of rupees to B, reserving to himself, with B’s assent, the right to take
back at pleasure Rs. 10,000 out of the lakh.
The gift holds goods as to Rs. 90,000, but is void as to Rs.10,000,
which continue to belong to A.
127. Onerous
gifts.-Where
a gift is in the form of a single transfer to the same person of several things
of which one is, and the others are not burdened by an obligation, the donee
can take nothing by the gift unless he accepts it fully.
Where a gift is in the form of two or more separate and independent
transfers to the same person of several things, the donee is at liberty to
accept one of them and refuse the others, although the former may be beneficial
and the latter onerous.
Onerous gift to disqualified person. -A donee not competent to contract and accepting property burdened by any
obligation is not bound by his acceptance.
But if, after becoming competent to contract and being aware of the
obligation, he retains the property given, he becomes so bound.
Illustrations
(a) A
shares in X, prosperous joint stock company, and also shares in Y. a joint
stock company in difficulties. Heavy
calls are expected in respect of the shares in Y A gives B all his shares in
joint stock companies. B refuses to
accept the shares in Y He cannot take the shares in X.
(b) A, having a lease for a term of years of a
house at a rent which lie and his representatives are bound to pay during the
term, and which is more than the house can be let for, gives to B the lease,
and also, as a separate and independent transaction, a sum of money. B refuses to accept the lease. He does not by this refusal forfeit the
money.
128. Universal donee.-Subject to the provisions of
Section 127, where a gift consists of the donor’s whole property, the donee is
personally liable for all the debts due by and liabilities of the donor at the
time of the gift to the extent of the property comprised therein.
129. Saving
of donations mortis causa and Muhammadan Law. -Nothing in this Chapter relates to gifts of
moveable property made in contemplation of death, or shall be deemed to affect
any rule of Muhammadan law.
CHAPTER VIII
OF TRANSFERS OF ACTIONABLE CLAIMS
130. Transfer of actionable claim. –
(1) The
transfer of an actionable claim whether with or without consideration shall be
effected only by the execution of an instrument in writing signed by the
transferor or his duly authorised agent, shall be complete and effectual upon
the execution of such instruments, and thereupon all the rights and remedies of
the transferor, whether by way of damages or otherwise, shall vest in the
transferee, whether by way of damages or otherwise, shall vest in the
transferee, whether such notice of the transfer as is hereinafter provided be
given or not:
Provided that every dealing with the debt or other actionable claim by
the debtor or other person from or against whom the transferor would, but for
such instrument of transfer as aforesaid, have been entitled to recover or
enforce such debt or other actionable claim, shall (save where the debtor or
other person is a party to the transfer or has received express notice thereof
as hereinafter provided) be valid as against such transfer.
(2) The
transferee of an actionable claim may, upon the execution of such instrument of
transfer as a foresaid, sue or institute proceeding for the same in his own name without obtaining the transferor’s
consent to such suit or proceeding and without making him a party thereto.
Exception.-Nothing in this section
applies to the transfer of a marine or fire policy of insurance or affects the
provisions of Section 38 of the Insurance Act 1938 (4 of 1938).
Illustrations
(i) A
owes money to “B”, who transfers the debt to “C”. “B” then demands the debt from “A”, who not having received notice of the transfer, as prescribed in
Section 131, pays “B”. The payment is valid, and “C” cannot sue A for the debt.
(ii) “A” effects a policy on his own life with an
Insurance Company and assigns it to a Bank for securing the payment of an
existing or future debt. If A dies, the
Bank is entitled to receive the amount of the policy and to sue on it without
the concurrence of A’s executor, subject to the provison in sub-section (1) of Section 130 and to provisions
of Section 132.
130A. Transfer
of policy of marine insurance. -[Rep. b-v the Marine Insurance Act, 1963 (11 of 1963)].
131. Notice
to be in writing, signed. -Every notice of transfer of an actionable claim shall be in writing,
signed by the transferor or his agent duly authorised in this behalf, or, in
case the transferor refuses to sign, by the transferee or his agent, and shall
state the name and address of the transferee.
132. Liability
of transferee of actionable claim. -The transferee of an actionable claim shall take it subject to all the
liabilities and equities and to which the transferor was subject in respect at
the date of the transfer.
Illustrations
(i) A
transfers to C a debt due to him by B, A being then indebted to B. C sues B for
the debt due by B to A. In such suit B is entitled to set off the debt due by A
to him; although C was unaware of it at the date of such transfer.
(ii) “A”
executed a bond in favour of B under circumstances entitling the former to have
it delivered up and cancelled. B
assigns the bond to C for value and without notice of such circumstances. C cannot enforce the bond against A.
133. Warranty of solvency of debtor. -Where the transferor of a debt warrants the
solvency of the debtor, the warranty, in the absence of a contract to the
contrary, applies only to his solvency at the time of the transfer, and is
limited, where the transfer is made for consideration, to the amount or value
of such consideration.
134. Mortgaged
debt. -Where
a debt is transferred for the purpose of securing an existing or future debt,
the debt so transferred, if received by the transferor or recovered by the
transferee, is applicable, first, in payment of the costs of such recovery;
secondly, in or towards satisfaction of the amount for the time being secured
by the transfer; and the residue, if any, belongs to the transferor or other
person entitled to receive the same.
135. Assignment of rights under
policy of insurance against fire. -Every assignee by endorsement or other writing, of a policy of insurance
against fire, in whom the property in the subject insured shall be absolutely
vested at the date of assignment, shall have transferred and vested in him all
rights of suit as if the contract contained in the policy has been made with
himself.
135A.
Assignment of rights under policy of marine insurance. -[Rep.
by the Marine Insurance Act, 1963 (11 of 1963)].
136. Incapacity of officers connected with Courts
of Justice. -No judge, legal practitioner or officer connected with any Court of
Justice shall buy or traffic in, or stipulate for, or agree to receive any
share of, or interest in, any actionable claim, and no Court of Justice shall
enforce, at his instance, or at the instance of any person claiming by or
through him, any actionable claim so dealt with by him as aforesaid.
137. Saving of negotiable instruments, etc. -Nothing in the foregoing sections of this
Chapter applies to stocks, shares or debentures, or to instruments which are
for one time being, by law or custom, negotiable, or to any mercantile document
of title to goods.
Explanation. -The expression “mercantile
document of title to goods” includes a bill of lading, dock-warrant,
warehouse-keeper’s certificate, railway receipt, warrant or order for the
delivery of goods, and any other document used in the ordinary course of
business as proof of the possession or control of goods, or authorising or
purporting to authorise, either by endorsement or by delivery, the possessor of
the document to transfer or receive goods thereby represented.
THE SCHEDULE
(a) STATUTES
|
Year and Chapter |
Subject |
Extent of Repeal |
|
27 Hen. VIII, C.5 |
Uses |
The whole |
|
13 Eliz., c. 4 |
Fraudulent conveyances |
The whole |
|
4 Wm. And Mary, c. 4 |
Fraudulent conveyances |
The whole |
|
4 Wm. And Mary, c. 16 |
Clandestine mortgages |
The whole |
(b)ACTS OF THE GOVERNER GENERAL IN COUNCIL
|
Number and Year |
Subject |
Extent of repeal |
|
IX of 1842 |
Lease and re-lease |
The whole |
|
XXXI of 1854 |
Modes of conveying land |
Section 17. |
|
XI of 1855 |
Mense profits and improvements |
Section 1; in the title, the words “to
mense profits and”, and in the preamble “to limit the liability of mense
profits and”. |
|
XXVII of 1866 |
Indian trustee Act |
Section 31 |
|
IV of 1872 |
Punjab Laws Act |
So far as it relates to Bengal
Regulations I of 1798 and XVII of
1806 |
|
XX OF 1875 |
Central Provinces Laws Act |
So far as it relates to Bengal Regulations
I of 1798 and XVII of 1806 |
|
XVII of 1876 |
Oudh Laws Act |
So far as it relates to Bengal
Regulations XVII of 1806. |
|
I of 1877 |
Specific Relief |
In Sections 35 and 36, the words “in
writing”. |
(c) REGULATION
|
Number
and Year |
Subject |
Extent
of repeal |
|
Bengal
Regulation I of 1798 |
Conditional
sale |
The
whole Regulation |
|
Bengal
Regulation XVII of 1806 |
Redemption |
The
whole Regulation |
|
Bengal
Regulation V of 1827 |
Acknowledgement
of debts; interest; Mortgages in possession |
Section
15 |